In order to make shopping as barrier-free as possible, BILLA, in cooperation with Diakonie de La Tour, launched the pilot project "Silent Hour" in selected Carinthian stores on October 16, 2023, daily at the following times:
Ebentaler Str. 55, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
10.-Oktober-Strasse 25, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Klagenfurter Str. 38, 9100 Völkermarkt from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Hauptstraße 221, 9201 Krumpendorf am Wörthersee from 3:00 to 04:00 p.m.
During the "Silent Hour", music and announcements are dispensed with in the markets selected by the Carinthian Association of Social Assistance and the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences. The employees have been specially trained for dealing with people with autism by the association Inklusion:Kärnten and are sensitized accordingly. Assistance dogs are of course welcome in all stores throughout Austria. BILLA focuses on mutual consideration during the daily "silent hour" and draws attention to the quiet shopping hour with posters in the respective stores. "This pilot project is more than just a 'quiet hour'. Through it, we are promoting the participation of people with autism in social life. Thus, we are not only creating a pleasant and stress-free shopping opportunity, but also taking an important step towards an inclusive society," says Kurt Aschbacher, BILLA Sales Director for the Carinthia and East Tyrol region.
"It is very important to us to create a welcoming and pleasant shopping experience for all our customers. Of course, this also includes people who prefer a less hectic shopping environment due to autism. By introducing 'Silent Hour' in various provinces, including Carinthia, Vienna, Burgenland, Styria and Upper Austria, we are breaking down barriers and promoting an inclusive shopping environment. In cooperation with local social organizations, we plan to expand this initiative to other Austrian cities and communities," says Sandra Edelmann, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at REWE Group.
