John Lewis launches autism-friendly shoe fit service

Image: John Lewis and Partners.

Highstreet department store chain, John Lewis, has announced that they are launching an autism-friendly shoe fit service to help parents of children on the autistic spectrum with the buying of school shoes.

The new scheme will be launched in five John Lewis stores across the UK as a pilot, before hopefully being rolled out across all the department stores. Working in conjunction with the National Autistic Society, the scheme will allow parents to call ahead and discuss ways to make the experience of shopping for shoes easier, with facilities such as private fitting rooms and particular walking routes around the shops.

Initially, the scheme will be available at John Lewis stores at White City, Bluewater, Southampton, Cribbs Causeway and Cheadle. It follows on from a smaller trial at the Cheadle store, where the team there joined forces with social enterprise, AuKids, who provide information and support for parents with children on the autism spectrum.

Image: John Lewis and Partners.

Caroline Bettis, Head of Buying for John Lewis’ Childrenswear department, said: “It’s been fantastic working with the National Autistic Society on this service. Shoe fitting can be stressful enough for children and their parents, but this experience can be even more challenging for autistic children. I hope this service will provide a less overwhelming environment which will help autistic children find the prefect pair of shoes.”

According to the National Autistic Society’s research, there are 700,000 people in the UK with autism which affects them in different ways. Many people with autism have said that they are affected by sounds, lights and crowds, which makes it difficult for them to visit shops. The National Autistic Society has found that 28% of people they have spoken to have been asked to leave a public place because of their autism and a further 50% of autistic people and their families don’t go out because they are worried about how others might judge them.

Speaking about John Lewis’ new pilot scheme, Tom Purser, Head of Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “We are very pleased to have worked with John Lewis to develop this trial. We hear from autistic people and their families that busy public spaces can be challenging because of bright lights, amplified sounds and crowds or queues can make them feel overwhelmed.

“We know that a basic understanding and small changes, like these that are John Lewis are putting into place, can really transform the lives of autistic people and their families allowing them to take part in activities that many people take for granted. We hope that more shops and businesses will be inspired by John Lewis’ fantastic example and do their bit to make sure that autistic people and their families have the same opportunities as everyone else.”