Showtime! Movie screenings for families with autism
by Beth
A year and a half ago, I published a post here called Autism-friendly screening: Harry Potter. The post talked about changes a theatre in Nottingham, England had made to help patrons feel more comfortable at a screening there.
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” will air in a special “autism-friendly” setting at Broadway Cinema in Nottingham today at 1:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the Prince of Wales Arts & Kids Foundation, the film will be shown at a lower volume and with the lights turned on in the theatre during the movie. Broadway Cinema assures guests that they can move around and make noise during the show without being reprimanded.
And now, good news! The British Invasion has finally come to America, this time in the form of autism-friendly screenings! An article in the San Bernardino County Sun last week reported that — thanks in part to our friends at the Autism Society of America — autism-friendly screenings have started in California
The Autism Society of America and AMC Entertainment recently launched “Sensory Friendly Films,” a monthly series for families dealing with these issues. The series gives the families with autistic children an opportunity to enjoy movies like “Bedtime Stories,” “Hotel for Dogs” and “Race to Witch Mountain” with the sound reduced and the lights turned up just a touch, so those with sensory disorders can be more comfortable.