My favourite cinema does not take CEA Cards...

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...which is disappointment.

To clarify for anyone (which will probably mean most of the site) who are unfamiliar with what I am talking about, a Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card is national card that can be used across the UK to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema. Not all cinemas participate in this scheme, though my local one-screen fleapit one does, the art cinema Cornerhouse in Manchester also does too, as well as most major national cinema chains. The CEA has a website that is available here.

It's not a massive biggie, and I still get £1 per ticket off due to being disabled, but it's just one of those things that you tut about and move on. (The concessionary discount was swallowed up in a booking fee for a archival film documentary showing Lancashire as it used to be in the olden days.)

Do Cornerhouse do autism friendly screenings?

I know that the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology in Liverpool (Picturehouse cinemas) do tho there not on the CEA card scheme.

No; they're an art house cinema.

Bloody hell - isn't cheap in there, is it? £9 each per ticket?!

Wow I did not know being an aspie could save me money(I relise I live in a dirrerent country). I usually just went to things on cheap day at an odd time when no one was there. Are there alot of Autism related discounts and accomidations? not that I want to go around flashing a card telling everyone I have it, however it might come in handy, maybe I would have more friends if my odd beheivor got people in cheap and got better seats. lol

FACT is an art house cinema, I know Cornerhouse is I use to got to it before FACT opened up in my city.

At my local movie theatre, if I get a movie ticket, plus a small popcorn and drink, it costs $30.

Ouch! Depending on what cinema I go to, it either costs me £9 for a ticket or £3.40. (or £4.50 for 3D) Unfortunately, the cinema which is cheaper doesn't have a brilliant selection of films.

Picturehouses/Cityscreen are a subsidiarity of Cineworld, a CEA member.

I think they offered the benefit of the scheme before being taken over but did not want to pay membership (or train their staff).

The CEA list of national chains is very out of date, one of the chains was taken over by another in 2005!.

According to the conditions:


It is difficult to see how this would apply to some people with autism, most of the time when I go to the cinema (to watch a film) I go at a quiet time, by myself. The times I go with other people (such as flatmates etc.) I needed no assistance from them.

I certainly wouldn't need assistance since going to a movie is something I'm capable of doing by myself but I suppose I can understand why some people would need it.

I haven't been to a movie since 2010 I think. They are just too expensive in the theater. I'd have to spend at least $10 to get in (or bus fare to a cheaper theater plus ticket which would be as much if not more) and even though I sneak my own food in I'd have to pay if I want that special movie theater popcorn. I was having cravings for it lately.

There is nothing special about cinema popcorn, most of the UK's supply is made here on an industrial estate, put in plastic bags and transported in a lorry to the cinemas where it is warmed and sold at an extortionate price.

I'm in the US.

While not exactly "special" movie theater popcorn just seems different and never like any popcorn I have at home.

That sounds like it'd be a lifesaver for people who have aides or family members to accompany them. You wouldn't have to pay just to get your assistant in, and it would be safer--like if there was a fire or something and you needed them to get you out because you'd freeze up if they didn't.

They probably make their money back on popcorn and drinks, too.

I wonder if they make this public for the elderly too? Plenty of elderly people are disabled enough to need a family member with them and they often get stuck at home. It's bad to get isolated, and older people are at risk for that, maybe even more so than young people with disabilities are.

For some, it's nice to just have the company. I know someone who moaned about this. His granddaughter is blind and she has to pay to get in; but he doesn't and his sight is fine.

It applies to people who on disability welfare, for instance.



I usually go at quiet times but I would probably get a bit flummoxed if I didn't know a cinema well or what to do if something went wrong.

Older people that have carers and that have Attendance Allowance are also eligible to use the CEA Card, as well as those people registered blind.



To be honest, I very rarely buy any drinks of food at the national chains because it's so mind-boggingly expensive. £3.50 for a medium Coke, half of which consists of ice (or £2.15 from the vending machine)! No thanks. When you consider that it's literally 50% off or more at the supermarket next door...



That's one of the main reasons that I have my CEA card.