Attention Costco shoppers: in honor of the holidays, the wholesale megastore is offering a special event for those with autism. Following in the footsteps of places like Chuck E. Cheese's [1] and Toys "R" Us [2], a Costco in Illinois announced that on Friday, Dec. 16, it will be hosting a sensory-friendly shopping event to help those with autism have a more enjoyable shopping experience.

"It's really helpful for stores to reduce the odors, reduce the sounds, reduce the distractions that make it really hard for children as well as adults," a spokesperson for an autism advocacy group [3] told Central Illinois Proud.

Between the flashing lights, loud noises, and congested aisles, shopping can be an unbelievably overwhelming experience for parents of kids with autism [4], but there's no better time than the holidays to accommodate those who are sensitive to these things. From 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., the local store will take down all visual displays and will have "minimal lighting."

This Costco location and the other stores creating sensory-friendly events are setting an amazing example and we hope that more stores can follow their lead.