Understanding Autism for Retail and Leisure
Our training helps staff create welcoming, accessible experiences for autistic customers and their families.
Understanding Autism for Retail and Leisure
Our training helps staff create welcoming, accessible experiences for autistic customers and their families.
What You’ll Learn
Retail and leisure spaces should be welcoming and accessible for everyone, but for many people, they can be overwhelming or difficult to navigate. This course is designed for colleagues and managers working in shops, hospitality, entertainment, and public venues, providing a practical introduction to autism and how to create more inclusive, supportive customer experiences. Small changes in communication, environment, and awareness can make a big difference for autistic customers, their families, and your wider community.
In this course, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of autism as a developmental difference, and how it can shape the way individuals communicate, interact, and process the world around them. You’ll explore how sensory differences may act as barriers to accessing and enjoying retail and leisure spaces, and reflect on your own assumptions, language, and approach in the context of autism. Most importantly, you’ll come away with practical strategies to make your environment more accessible and welcoming — helping you better support autistic customers, visitors, and colleagues.
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Understanding Autism
We’ll introduce autism as a neurodevelopmental difference, exploring how it shapes how people experience the world, and why the language we use in customer-facing environments matters.
Barriers in Retail & Leisure
This section highlights the sensory, communication, and environmental barriers autistic people often face as customers or employees in retail and leisure spaces.
Creating Inclusive Experiences
Finally, you’ll learn practical ways to improve accessibility and inclusion – from small environmental adjustments to communication strategies that support both customers and colleagues.
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This course is ideal for anyone working in retail, hospitality, or leisure services who wants to create more inclusive experiences for autistic customers and colleagues.
No previous knowledge of autism is required – this course offers an accessible introduction to understanding and supporting autistic people in customer-facing environments.
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By the end of this course, you will:
- Understand autism as a neurodevelopmental difference and the importance of inclusive language
- Recognise the barriers autistic people may face in retail and leisure environments
- Learn simple, practical strategies to improve customer experience and workplace inclusion
- Gain confidence in supporting communication needs, sensory differences, and diverse strengths
After this introductory course, you can continue your learning with Step 2 courses such as Autism and Sensory Processing or Autism and Communication, offering deeper insight into creating accessible, inclusive environments.
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Check out our consultancy options to explore how we can support you create more accessible spaces for autistic people.
Book your course today
In-person
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We also offer autism consultancy in this sector.
Find out more
Contact us to find the right course for you.
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