A mother from Tranmere says she was left in tears after a staff member at Home Bargains made a derogatory comment about her autistic daughter's vocalizations. Rachael Taylor, 37, visited the store on the Rock Retail Park with her three-year-old daughter Lottie, who is autistic, on the morning of July 2.
Incident at the Till
Taylor, a mother of four, explained that she usually avoids taking her autistic children shopping due to sensory overload, but had no choice on this occasion. As they approached the checkout, Lottie made an 'ugghh' noise—a sound she produces when overstimulated, which can be mistaken for crying. According to the National Autistic Society, autistic individuals often experience heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli and may engage in self-stimulatory behavior, or 'stimming', to regulate emotions.
Taylor claims the cashier said she 'couldn't stand' the noise, even after Taylor explained why her daughter was making it. 'The lady who works there, she was talking to a customer. She was slagging off the staff who don't listen when she’s on the tannoy. Then she said, I can't stand children either when they're crying like that,' Taylor recounted.
Emotional Aftermath
The comment left Taylor 'hysterical' and she had to leave the store without her shopping. 'I was embarrassed because it was like, have you really just said that? Twenty plus people saw it,' she said. 'After it happened, I had a massive panic attack and burst into tears. I struggle with anxiety. It's the rudeness that gets me. That's my little girl and you don't know her. It puts you off going out.'
Taylor noted that Lottie did not understand the comment, but she and her husband were deeply affected. Other customers in the queue expressed support, asking if she was okay.
Response from Home Bargains
Taylor expressed dissatisfaction with the company's follow-up. A team leader apologized on the day, but she had to 'chase up' a response from TJ Morris, Home Bargains' parent company. 'The manager phoned me afterwards. They said the area manager would call me. I’m still waiting,' she said. The Liverpool Echo approached TJ Morris for comment but received no response at the time of reporting.
