Port Macquarie mum Emily Kinney formerly joined forces with her husband David for shopping trips with five-year-old Arthur, who has the rare disorder, Angelman Syndrome.

An outing to the supermarket will be easier after a successful test drive of a special needs trolley at Coles Port Macquarie.

“Not having to juggle pushing a chair or special needs stroller and a trolley at the same time, or even having to balance a basket on the back of a chair, it makes it 100 times easier,” Mrs Kinney said.

Coles Port Macquarie store manager Steve Clifton said they were pleased to have these trolleys available because they wanted to help customers to shop easily.

“The trolley ensures that parents and carers no longer need to juggle a wheelchair and shopping basket during their shop at Coles,” he said.

“It means they are able to place all their groceries in a trolley while also having their child seated safely.”

The trolley caters for a child of up to 70 kilograms, and has padding on the sides, a harness and additional support in its structure.

Additional needs trolleys are available from the customer service desk at Coles Port Macquarie, Lighthouse Beach and Lake Innes.

Social awareness campaign Accept Difference is helping to spread the word about the special needs trolleys.

Accept Difference will profile the Port Macquarie Coles supermarket and its inclusive approach through social media and its website.

Accept Difference encourages all Mid-North Coast supermarkets to demonstrate this inclusive initiative.

A Woolworths spokesperson said Woolworths only last year rolled out its most modern additional needs trolleys to more than 70 per cent of its stores nationwide.

Lake Cathie Woolworths is the nearest Woolworths store with access to the new additional needs trolley.

“The new trolleys' design is based on feedback from customers,” the Woolworths spokesperson said.

“We introduced them to ensure our customers have access to a trolley that will make grocery shopping easier, safer and more comfortable.”