Hi there everyone, hope you're doing well.

My name is Paul and I work for a not-for-profit organisation interested in developing resources for retail staff - to build awareness and confidence around serving disabled customers when they visit retail stores.

We're keen to ensure that the resources are co-created with consumers with lived experience, and I would love to hear any experiences or views you can offer, please.

If you identify as having a disability (including mental health conditions of course) and want to share your personal experience, I wonder if you could respond to the questions below in any way you see fit. It is up to you whether you want to share any details of specific disability. Your responses will be used privately and confidentially within our organisation just to support our content development, with no public referencing or attributing.

Any questions or concerns, please feel free to message me.

Many thanks for any contributions you can make - your perspectives will help us to build more inclusive experiences for retail customers :)

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1. What are the main barriers or challenges you've experienced when visiting retail stores?

2. Can you share any particular examples of support or communication you've received from a retail employee which has led to positive shopping experience?

3. What's one thing you wish retail staff could be aware of, when entering a store?

Hello! 🤠

My name is Tohid Zarei. I'm a PhD student of Psychology at the University of South Australia. I'm working on a project to co-create a peer support program with autistic young adults.

As part of that, I'm exploring autistic young adults’ experiences and preferences for peer support programs, including the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) as a new way to connect.

✨ What?

This is an anonymous online survey (~20 minutes) about:

• How you connect with peers

• Your experiences of peer support

• Your preferences for support program activities and delivery methods

________________________________________

👥 Who?

To participate, you:

• Identify as Autistic (with or without diagnosis) without intellectual disability

• Are aged 18–30 years

________________________________________

🌱 Why?

Help create more accessible and affirming peer support. Also, you:

• Share your voice on VR better serving autistic people

• Support participatory research centring lived experience

• Can express interest in joining the research co-design team if you live in South Australia

________________________________________

🔗 How?

https://form.typeform.com/to/iUtUIqK5

________________________________________

📩 Questions or Access Needs?

Contact: Tohid Zarei

[tohid.zarei@mymail.unisa.edu.au](mailto:tohid.zarei@mymail.unisa.edu.au)

PhD Researcher, University of South Australia

Approved by University of South Australia's Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol 206644).