Special Showings Cater To Children With Autism

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Special Showings Cater To Children With Autism
Sensory-Friendly Films Keep Lights On, Sound Low

INDIANAPOLIS -- The crowds and loud noises of movie theaters can be sensory overload for children with autism, but one chain is hoping to provide a safe alternative.

AMC Entertainment and the Autism Society are hosting sensory-friendly films every month across the country, 6News' Stacia Matthews reported.

During the showing, the lights stay on and the sound is kept low.

"It's difficult for some children to take that intensity of sound or the darkness" of a traditional movie theater, said Erin Diedendorf, an autism consultant with the Hamilton, Madison Bones Special Services. "They may be afraid of the dark. But sensory-friendly films are really a godsend."

During the show, children are encouraged to get out of their seats, walk around the theater and even dance or sing along.

When Melissa Moore took her 6-year-old son, Vincent, who has autism, to one of the movies, she said it was the first time the entire family had been to the theater together.

"There was running up and down the aisles. There was running in the front," she said. "For once, I didn't feel as if my kid was the bad one, that my kid was disruptive. I was like OK, we're alright here."

The sensory-friendly movies, which are intended for any children with a disability, are shown at 10 a.m. once a month at select AMC theaters:

May 22 -- " Shrek Forever After"
June 26 -- "Toy Story 3"
July 17 -- "Despicable Me"
Aug. 7 -- "Cats & Dogs 2"
Sept. 25 -- "Guardians of Ga' Hoole"
Oct. 9 -- "The Zookeeper"

No previews or advertisements are shown before the movies. To accommodate children with gluten or casein allergies, families are allowed to bring in their own snacks.

Nationwide, autism affects one in 110 children, while the rate is one in 100 in Indiana.

6News is taking an in-depth look at autism this week to mark Autism Awareness Month.

Wow... 75 views and no comments. I thought for sure someone would have input they'd like to share. There's even a video about it on the stinking website!!

No need for such language - kidding. I don't have that type of autism but I suppose it's a good thing. I would find the kids running around distracting and the lights almost blinding. But then again I have AS and sensory sensitivities.

Yeah, I wouldn't go myself either, but I agree that it's great for the more lower functioning kids. But if I were there, I think that all the kids running around and shouting and stuff would drive me absolutely nuts!

That's great for the kids who need it. I, on the other hand, prefer the full movie experience, with the low lights, the loud screen and the popcorn.

I hope this becomes more prevalent. It would be great for my daughter. She loves movies (well, videos at home) and there are several movies in theaters she's wanted to see. She tries. She really does.But we rarely make it past the previews because she gets undone by the lights going down and how loud they blast the soundtrack. This would be awesome and will hopefully become more common.

I went to a cinema once which had something vaguely similar to this, but didn't go anywhere near as far (it only did the low sound/better lighting). I didn't attend it because the title was aimed at a rather younger demographic than mine.

This screening system sounds like a good idea - not everyone likes to see their films the same way and if having special screenings allows more autistic people to enjoy the cinema then there should be more of them.