AMC has Batman V Superman Sensory Friendly Twice: 4/9 & 4/12
Last updated on April 13th, 2016 at 01:37 pm
AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other special needs “Sensory Friendly Films” every month – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fun new films in a safe and accepting environment.
The movie auditoriums will have their lights turned up and the sound turned down. Families will be able to bring in snacks to match their child’s dietary needs (i.e. gluten-free, casein-free, etc.), there are no advertisements or previews before the movie and it’s totally acceptable to get up and dance, walk, shout, talk to each other…and even sing – in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced during movie screenings unless the safety of the audience is questioned.
Does it make a difference? Absolutely! Imagine …no need to shhhhh your child. No angry stares from other movie goers. Many parents think twice before bringing a child to a movie theater. Add to that your child’s special needs and it can easily become cause for parental panic. But on this one day a month, for this one screening, everyone is there to relax and have a good time, everyone expects to be surrounded by kids – with and without special needs – and the movie theater policy becomes “Tolerance is Golden“.
This month, AMC and the Autism Society’s “Sensory Friendly Film” program are offering two chances to see Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice – on Saturday, April 9th at 10am and Tuesday, April 12th at 7pm, all times local. Tickets are $4 to $6 depending on the location. To find a theatre near you, here is a list of AMC theatres nationwide participating in this fabulous program (note: to access full list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Coming later in April: The Jungle Book (Sat, 4/23) and The Huntsman Winter’s War (Tues, 4/26)
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Editor’s note: Although Batman V Superman has been chosen by the AMC and the Autism Society as this month’s Sensory Friendly Film, we do want parents to know that it is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for intense sequences of violence and action throughout, and some sensuality. As always, please check the IMDB Parents Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
See Allegiant-Part1 Sensory Friendly Tomorrow Courtesy of AMC
Last updated on March 26th, 2016 at 04:44 pm
AMC Entertainment (AMC) has expanded their Sensory Friendly Films program in partnership with the Autism Society! This Tuesday evening, families affected by autism or other special needs have the opportunity to view a sensory friendly screening of Allegiant – Part I from The Divergent Series, a film that may appeal to older audiences on the autism spectrum.
As always, the movie auditoriums will have their lights turned up and the sound turned down. Families will be able to bring in snacks to match their child’s dietary needs (i.e. gluten-free, casein-free, etc.), there are no advertisements or previews before the movie and it’s totally acceptable to get up and dance, walk, shout, talk to each other…and even sing – in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced during movie screenings unless the safety of the audience is questioned.
Does it make a difference? Absolutely! Imagine …no need to shhhhh your child. No angry stares from other movie goers. Many parents think twice before bringing a child to a movie theater. 
Add to that your child’s special needs and it can easily become cause for parental panic. But on this one day a month, for this one screening, everyone is there to relax and have a good time, everyone expects to be surrounded by kids – with and without special needs – and the movie theater policy becomes “Tolerance is Golden“.
AMC and the Autism Society will be showing the next movie in The Divergent Series: Allegiant – Part 1, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 22nd at 7pm (local time). Tickets are $4 to $6 depending on the location. To find a theatre near you, here is a list of AMC theatres nationwide participating in this fabulous program (note: to access full list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Coming in April: Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice (Sat, 4/9 and Tues, 4/12), The Jungle Book (Sat, 4/23) and The Huntsman Winter’s War (Tues, 4/26)
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Editor’s note: Although Allegiant – Part 1 has been chosen by the Autism Society for a Tuesday Sensory Friendly screening, we do want parents to know that it is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for intense violence and action, thematic elements, and some partial nudity. As always, please check the IMDB Parents Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
Talking to Your Child About Their Autism
Last updated on March 22nd, 2016 at 11:52 am
Dr Glòria Durà-Vilà is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with a clinical interest in autism. She is the author of My Autism Book, a new illustrated book that explains to children what an autism diagnosis means.
In her work as a child psychiatrist with Surrey and Borders NHS Trust, Dr Glòria Durà-Vilà meets many parents in her clinic who struggle with telling their child about their autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. “Many children who arrive in my clinical practice don’t know about their diagnosis of ASD because their parents didn’t know how to explain it and were worried it could upset them,” she says.
Glòria found that this lack of communication often led to upsetting situations. For example, one child found out about his diagnosis when he read the word “autistic” next to his name on a class list at school, while another, already a teenager, had no idea that his problems with making friends were caused by his autism, believing instead that it was because he was “ugly”.
These instances and many others inspired Glòria to write My Autism Book. She teamed up with illustrator Tamar Levi to create a picture book designed to help parents to have those conversations at home.
“Our book explains what an autism diagnosis means and encourages an exploration of the child’s strengths and differences in a tone that speaks directly to the child,” she explains. “We wanted the pictures to show how the world looks from the child’s perspective. So, for example, we avoided using facial expressions, as these are often confusing to children with autism.
“It doesn’t have to be read all at once and can be revisited at any time.”
The Benefits of Telling your Child about their ASD
Knowing about their diagnosis can help a child to explain the differences they may have noticed between themselves and other children, and shed light on the difficulties they are facing. These differences can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and the way they perceive themselves if they are left unaddressed.
“Children whom I have diagnosed with ASD have told me about the positives of knowing what their condition was. I even had a card from a teenager I diagnosed who thanked me because he now ‘liked himself more’, as he now knew why at times he didn’t fit in,” says Glòria.
Sometimes parents ask Glòria if she can tell their child about the diagnosis, but she feels that as they are the ones who the know their child best, they can provide a loving and safe space to deliver this message. “A child will be much more receptive to their parents talking to them at home, rather than hearing it from a professional,” she says.
No one size fits all. In some cases of autism, a child’s ability to communicate or understand can be significantly impaired, in which case they will have different needs, starting with finding the right educational environment to help them reach their potential.
“I have met amazing parents of children with these difficulties who found creative ways to communicate – such as one mother who communicates with her child through different types of caress, rather than words or gestures,” says Glòria. “I was struck by how these parents accepted their children’s problems and enjoyed their uniqueness, celebrating each one of their achievements, no matter how small.”
Your Emotions as a Parent
“Many parents react with relief on hearing the diagnosis, as they were the ones who initiated the assessment process and realised they ‘always knew’ but felt that the diagnosis and learning about the condition helped them to understand their child better. However, others initially react with disbelief or sadness,” says Glòria.
“I often tell these parents that their child is still the same special boy or girl whom they love, and that a diagnosis of ASD is just an explanation for the difficulties they are having and a step towards finding the right help they need,” she says. Many parents ask whether their child’s ASD was in any way their fault. “For example, although the claim that the MMR vaccine could cause autism has been widely discredited, I still have parents attributing their child’s autism to this vaccine and blaming themselves for allowing their child to have it,” says Glòria. “I try to explain that it is a neurodevelopmental condition that isn’t anyone’s fault.”
Glòria encourages parents to concentrate on finding services and voluntary organisations that will help their child to thrive. The National Autistic Society (or The Autism Society in the US*) has advice and information about living with autism, including some of the benefits and services available to people with autism and their parents and carers.
Glòria’s Tips for Talking about ASD
- Choose a time when your child is at their most calm and receptive.
- Pick a space with few distractions.
- Return to any questions your child may have already asked while they were being assessed, and use these as cues to start the conversation.
- Make sure any information you give them is right for their age so they can understand what is being explained to them. For example, My Autism Book is tailored to the needs and experiences of the child with ASD aged five years old and upwards.
You may also like to read parent Deborah French’s account of raising her son Henry, who has ASD.
Further Information
- Find out more about caring for someone with autism or (The Autism Society*)
- My Autism Book: A Child’s Guide to their Autism Spectrum Diagnosis is published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Read about other autism misconceptions and the facts about autism.
Editor’s Note: *clarification provided for our US readers.
From www.nhs.uk
Zootopia is Sensory Friendly 2x this Month at AMC: 3/12 & 3/26
Last updated on March 22nd, 2016 at 11:48 am
AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other special needs “Sensory Friendly Films” every month – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fun new films in a safe and accepting environment.
The movie auditoriums will have their lights turned up and the sound turned down. Families will be able to bring in snacks to match their child’s dietary needs (i.e. gluten-free, casein-free, etc.), there are no advertisements or previews before the movie and it’s totally acceptable to get up and dance, walk, shout, talk to each other…and even sing – in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced during movie screenings unless the safety of the audience is questioned.
Does it make a difference? Absolutely! Imagine …no need to shhhhh your child. No angry stares from other movie goers. Many parents think twice before bringing a child to a movie theater. Add to that your child’s special needs and it can easily become cause for parental panic. But on this 
one day a month, for this one screening, everyone is there to relax and have a good time, everyone expects to be surrounded by kids – with and without special needs – and the movie theater policy becomes “Tolerance is Golden“.
This Saturday, March 12th, and on Saturday, March 26th, at 10am local time, AMC and the Autism Society’s “Sensory Friendly Film” program will be showing Zootopia. Tickets are $4 to $6 depending on the location. To find a theatre near you, here is a list of AMC theatres nationwide participating in this fabulous program (note: to access full list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Coming in April: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (Sat, 4/9 and Tues, 4/12); The Jungle Book (Sat, 4/23) and The Huntsman Winter’s War (Tues, 4/26)
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Editor’s note: Although Zootopia has been chosen by the AMC and the Autism Society as this month’s Sensory Friendly Film, we do want parents to know that it is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for for some thematic elements, rude humor and action. As always, please check the IMDB Parents Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
Tomorrow, LONDON HAS FALLEN is Sensory Friendly at AMC
Last updated on March 10th, 2016 at 12:28 pm
AMC Entertainment (AMC) has expanded their Sensory Friendly Films program, in partnership with the Autism Society! This Tuesday evening, families affected by autism or other special needs have the opportunity to view a sensory friendly screening of London Has Fallen, a film that may appeal to older audiences on the autism spectrum.
As always, the movie auditoriums will have their lights turned up and the sound turned down. Families will be able to bring in snacks to match their child’s dietary needs (i.e. gluten-free, casein-free, etc.), there are no advertisements or previews before the movie and it’s totally acceptable to get up and dance, walk, shout, talk to each other…and even sing – in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced during movie screenings unless the safety of the audience is questioned.
Does it make a difference? Absolutely! Imagine …no need to shhhhh your child. No angry stares from other movie goers. Many parents think twice before bringing a child to a movie theater. Add to that your child’s special needs and it can easily become cause for parental panic. But on this one day a month, for this one screening, 
everyone is there to relax and have a good time, everyone expects to be surrounded by kids – with and without special needs – and the movie theater policy becomes “Tolerance is Golden“.
AMC and the Autism Society will be showing London Has Fallen tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8th at 7pm (local time). Tickets are $4 to $6 depending on the location. To find a theatre near you, here is a list of AMC theatres nationwide participating in this fabulous program (note: to access full list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Later this Month: Zootopia (Sat, 3/12 and 3/26), The Divergent Series: Allegiant, Part 1 (Tues, 3/22)
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Editor’s note: Although London Has Fallen has been chosen by the Autism Society for a Tuesday Sensory Friendly screening, we do want parents to know that it is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for strong violence and language throughout. As always, please check the IMDB Parents Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
Zoolander 2 is Sensory Friendly Tomorrow Courtesy of AMC
Last updated on February 24th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
AMC Entertainment (AMC) has expanded their Sensory Friendly Films program, in partnership with the Autism Society! This Tuesday evening, families affected by autism or other special needs have the opportunity to view a sensory friendly screening of Zoolander 2, a film that may appeal to older audiences on the autism spectrum.
As always, the movie auditoriums will have their lights turned up and the sound turned down. Families will be able to bring in snacks to match their child’s dietary needs (i.e. gluten-free, casein-free, etc.), there are no advertisements or previews before the movie and it’s totally acceptable to get up and dance, walk, shout, talk to each other…and even sing – in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced during movie screenings unless the safety of the audience is questioned.
Does it make a difference? Absolutely! Imagine …no need to shhhhh your child. No angry stares from other movie goers. Many parents think twice before bringing a child to a movie theater. Add to that your child’s special needs and it can easily become cause for parental panic. But on this one day a month, for this one screening, everyone is there to relax and have a good time, everyone expects to be surrounded by kids – with and without special needs – and the movie theater policy becomes “Tolerance is Golden“.
AMC and the Autism Society will be showing Zoolander 2 tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23rd at 7pm (local time). Tickets are $4 to $6 depending on the location. To find a theatre near you, here is a list of AMC theatres nationwide participating in this fabulous program (note: to access full list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Coming in March: London Has Fallen (Tues, 3/8), Zootopia (Sat, 3/12 and 3/26), The Divergent Series: Allegiant, Part 1 (Tues, 3/22)
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Editor’s note: Although Zoolander 2 has been chosen by the Autism Society for a Tuesday Sensory Friendly screening, we do want parents to know that it is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for crude and sexual content, a scene of exaggerated violence, and brief strong lanaguage. As always, please check the IMDB Parents Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
