Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
NATICK, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Advocates, a non-profit human services provider, and its Autism Alliance program officially opened its Autism Welcoming Center at the Natick Mall last week.
Located on the upper floor of the mall near Learning Express Toys & Gifts, the center is a calming space for people living with autism and their families.
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The center offers sensory-friendly calm kits including noise cancelling headphones, sunglasses, fidgets, and visual aids, quiet locations, and family restrooms.
"It’s a respite for shoppers that come to the Natick Mall that are here shopping, but also might need a space where they can have a sensory break," said Allison Daigle, the program's executive director. "If somebody does need to take a break, we want them to be able to know they can come down to us and we have this calming space."
The space also serves as a resource center for families with autism and a training location for businesses that want to certify their staff as autism-friendly.
1 of 2 Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
2 of 2 Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
"Our hope is to have the entire mall certified as well as all the businesses in it," Daigle told WBZ NewsRadio Thursday.
According to Daigle, so far the program has trained 60 local businesses on how to interact with customers who have autism.
"We say this is the future of how we’re going to support people in the community," Daigle said.
WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
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