Virtual reality helps shoppers understand autistic child's experience at intu Trafford Centre

Using virtual reality, people experienced the sights and sounds through the eyes of an autistic child as part of an innovative initiative aimed at increasing the general public’s understanding of autism.

The pioneering project, which launched at intu Trafford Centre on Thursday June 9, allowed people to step inside the National Autistic Society’s viral film ‘Can you make it to the end?’, which follows an autistic boy experiencing sensory overload on a shopping trip.

Testing out the virtual reality equipment, which hopes to raise public's awareness of autism, at intu Trafford Centre

The launch marks intu Trafford Centre being recognised as the country’s first autism friendly shopping centre by the National Autistic Society’s new Autism Friendly Award.

A range of supportive measures for autistic people including autism-friendly shopping centre guides, specially-designed alert cards and frontline staff training.

Alexander Nicoll, corporate responsibility director at intu, said: “We’re pleased to be working with the National Autistic Society to ensure that we can offer a welcoming experience for people on the autism spectrum and their families, with this impactful virtual reality experience an important way of raising awareness of autism among all our shoppers and our staff.”

It is the latest event in the National Autistic Society’ ‘Too Much Information’ public awareness campaign, launched in April to increase public understanding of autism.

The charity found that 50 per cent of autistic people and their families sometimes or often don’t leave their homes because they are worried about negative and judgemental responses due to a lack of understanding of autism.

Alex Marshall, the 10-year-old autistic star of the campaign film, was at the launch.

He said: “I hate being in crowds and surrounded by too many people. Sometimes I need a lot of room, and when someone brushes past me, it’s as bad as someone pushing me. Small things can make me overwhelmed and have a meltdown.

“I’ve loved being part of the National Autistic Society’s film, it was like winning the lottery twenty gazillion times and I’m really excited about the VR so I can show my friends how things feel for me. It really helps when people understand things, and this is a really cool way to do it – you can just show someone inside your head! When someone’s seen what it’s like, I think they’ll know why I get overwhelmed, and then they’ll understand that I’m not being naughty.”