"Sensory-friendly" store hours are catching on

Driving the news: In a blog post about back-to-school shopping season, Walmart said that it will create "a more inclusive shopping experience" by holding sensory-friendly hours on Saturdays in July and August from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in most stores, starting July 22.

• "We are striving every day to create a culture where everyone feels they belong," the retail giant explained.

The big picture: Sensory-friendly hours were spearheaded more than a decade ago by museums and other cultural institutions that cater to children, and have been moving into the mainstream ever since.

• The Smithsonian Institution says it was one of the first when its "Morning at the Museum" program began in 2011, offering early entry and sensory-friendly activities to people on the autism spectrum.
• Other pioneers included the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
• AMC Theatres offers a regular schedule of sensory-friendly films in partnership with the Autism Society: "We turn the lights up and the sound down, so you can feel free to be you at these unique showings for people living with autism or other special needs."
• Chuck E. Cheese holds "Sensory Sensitive Sundays" with early openings plus "a quieter environment, dimmed lighting, and a trained and caring staff to ensure each guest has a safe, fun-filled visit."

Of note: This year, the White House held its first-ever sensory-friendly Easter Egg Roll.

• "Families enjoyed the shorter lines and reduced noise while they hunted for Easter eggs, and rolled eggs down the South Lawn," the Autism Society noted.

Where it stands: A growing number of websites offer directories of stores and attractions catering to people with disabilities in this way.

• One of the more comprehensive directories is maintained by a nonprofit called Twenty-One Senses, which notes that children with developmental disabilities are too often excluded from mainstream activities.
• Its searchable database of nearly 500 locations nationwide includes places with sensory accommodations like fidget toys, calm spaces and quiet rooms.
• A partnership between the University of New Hampshire and Twenty-One Senses called "Sensory Scouting" is researching the best ways to support children with neurodivergent conditions.

By the numbers: 1 in 6 children in the United States have sensory processing difficulties, per a 2018 article in JAMA Pediatrics.

• "In specific populations, the prevalence is estimated to be as high as 80% to 100% and includes children with autism spectrum disorder or who have a history of prematurity, fetal alcohol syndrome, or Down syndrome, just to name a few," the article said.

What they're saying: "Noise and light, along with social and language expectations, can induce stress for children on the spectrum, who are less able to self-regulate," Smithsonian Magazine reported.

• "Even a flickering light could be overwhelmingly distracting to someone with autism," per the article, citing the late Elise Freed-Brown of Seton Hall University.
• Freed-Brown wrote a seminal paper on developing museum programs for kids with autism, in which she said that "simple changes, such as providing sensory activities or holding a program when the museum is less crowded," can make a big difference in making these children feel welcome.

Case study: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport lets passengers with non-visible disabilities order a sunflower lanyard to wear around their neck while at the airport, reports Asher Price of Axios Austin.

• The lanyard works as a discreet visual cue to indicate to airport staff and other passengers that the wearer (or someone with them) has a non-visible disability and may need a little more time, support or assistance.

What's next: Expect "sensory-friendly" hours to proliferate as stores like Walmart recognize that they're good for business and make a major difference to the people who need them.