Shops, cinemas and amusement parks across the UK are adapting to provide a better all-round experience for people who have autism.

Supermarket chain ASDA and toy store Toys R Us both trialled ‘autism quiet’ hours last year, with the former launching a new programme to introduce accessible toilets for people with ‘invisible’ disabilities earlier this year.

Tonya Glennester, who has a five-year-old daughter on the autistic spectrum, said: “[My daughter] Evalynn has ADHD and autism and can be affected by the noise of the hand dryer as well as queues and crowds of people. It can often cause a sensory reaction causing Evalynn to become upset or have aggressive outbursts, so the accessible toilet gives us a little bit more space and privacy”.

It is common for people with autism to feel uneasy around crowds of people – an issue which amusement parks across the UK are also taking steps to tackle.

Theme parks including Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures have recently introduced ‘Ride Access Passes’ for guests who either struggle to stand for long periods of time due to disability, or who may struggle to understand the concept of ‘queuing’, and become ‘distressed’ when waiting around for long periods of time.

Some other amusement parks, such as Legoland Windsor, will allow one carer into the park without charge to accompany disabled guests.

Meanwhile, popular cinema chains such as Cineworld and ODEON have begun hosting ‘autism friendly’ film screenings on a monthly basis.