Mom Makes Push For Change In Target's Checkout Line To Help Daughter With Autism
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- "When I go shopping, as a mom, ideally I'd love to not bring my three kids, but sometimes you need bananas and juice boxes and a cute shirt to go to brunch right," said Kristin Jackowski, so that means a quick trip to Target.
The trouble, for her 6-year-old daughter Navy, is always found in the checkout aisle.
"She sees the candy, she's going to start asking for the candy and it's a fight many parents have," she said.
In this case, it's not just a fight. It's a meltdown.
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"Sometimes parents, or other customers, or other employees at this point will make comments like just give her the candy already someone said to me before put a muzzle on that bratty kid," Jackowski recalled.
She isn't able to buy the candy because Navy can't handle the sugar and buying it just once will create a concrete routine. Like one in 68 U.S. children, Navy has autism.
So, through a petition with over 1,000 signatures, Jackowski is asking Target, and other large retailers, for help in creating a "sensory friendly," checkout lane where that last minute candy would be replaced with other small toys.
"I think it will be helpful to make it known, oh that family is going through a sensory friendly lane so maybe there is an issue there," Jackowski explained.
She added that this could also benefit children with food allergies.
Jackowski says her local store has been receptive to the idea but, that any idea has to come from corporate.
A media spokesperson tells Eyewitness News that while they can't make any decisions just yet, the idea has made it into the right hands. It is a small step for a family who knows the value of each one.
"There are some struggles," Jackowski said. "But, our positive days outweigh those by a million."
