By BronxMama Lisa Quinones-Fontanez
On Saturday, November 6th at 10:00 am, AMC Bay Plaza 13 (2210 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, N.Y. 10475) will screen “Megamind” for this month’s “Sensory Friendly Film.” Ticket price is $6.00.
The Sensory Friendly Film Screening initiative began in 2008, when AMC Entertainment partnered with the Autism Society of America to allow families living with autism and other disabilities to experience the pleasure of the movies – with a few tweaks. Many children on the autism spectrum have sensitivities to light and sound, are on special diets and have extreme difficulty waiting and sitting still. During the Sensory Friendly Film screening, the lights are not completely dimmed, the sound is be turned down, families are permitted to bring in their own gluten free and casein free snacks, no previews or advertisements will be shown and most importantly AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy does not apply.
My son’s first movie was at a sensory screening and even though we had to leave halfway through the film. It was a great introduction to the movies. I didn’t have to worry about disturbing other audience members as he yelled and cried out and I was able to walk up and down the aisles with my son to make him more comfortable. I watched as children roamed around during the film, trying to find the perfect seat and I listened as others talked loudly while the movie played. I remember looking around at other parents, and it wasn’t menacing looks I received, but smiles and nods of encouragement. One mother left her son to come up to me and say “My son reacted the same way his first time. Don’t worry.” I turned back to look at him, he was sitting quietly, eating popcorn while pointing and laughing at the screen.
For a full list of participating theatres go to: www.autism-society.org. (Ticket prices may vary) Upcoming Sensory Film: November 20: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Lisa is a contributing writer for BronxMama and has her own blogs at autismwonderland.blogspot.com/ and triborodiva.blogspot.com/
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I love that this exists. I hope more movie theatres adopt these types of sensory screenings – we need more of them.