Tomorrow – Sept 27th, DOLPHIN TALE 2 is Sensory Friendly!
Last updated on October 1st, 2014 at 09:59 am
Once a month, AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and with other special needs ”Sensory Friendly Movie Screenings“ – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy their favorite “family-friendly” 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 “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”.
On Saturday September 27th at 10am local time, Dolphin Tale 2 will be screened as part of the Autism Society “Sensory Friendly Movie Screenings” program (although not in 3D for our Sensory Friendly audiences). 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 list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Coming October 25th: BOOK OF LIFE
**************************************************************************************************************************** Editor’s note: Although Dolphin Tale 2 has been chosen by the Autism Society as this month’s Sensory Friendly screening, it has been rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for some mild thematic events. As always, please check the IMDB Parent’s Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
Tomorrow – July 26th, PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE is Sensory Friendly
Last updated on September 21st, 2014 at 07:31 pm
Once a month, AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and with other special needs ”Sensory Friendly Movie Screenings“ – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy their favorite “family-friendly” 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 “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”.
On Saturday July 26th at 10am local time, Planes: Fire & Rescue will be screened as part of the Autism Society “Sensory Friendly Movie Screenings” program (although not in 3D for our Sensory Friendly audiences). 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 list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Coming September 27th: DOLPHIN TALE 2
**************************************************************************************************************************** Editor’s note: Although Planes: Fire & Rescue has been chosen by the Autism Society as this month’s Sensory Friendly screening, it has been rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for action and some peril. As always, please check the IMDB Parent’s Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
Sat. June 21, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 is Sensory Friendly
Last updated on September 21st, 2014 at 07:32 pm
Once a month, AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and with other special needs ”Sensory Friendly Movie Screenings“ – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy their favorite “family-friendly” 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 “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! “It can be challenging enough to bring ANY child to a movie theater” 
says PedSafe Special Needs Parenting Expert Rosie Reeves. “For a parent with a special needs child attempting an outing like this may seem overwhelming. And yet getting out, being with the community and sharing in an experience with an audience can be invaluable for just such children”.
On Saturday March 29th at 10am local time, How To Train Your Dragon 2 will be screened as part of the Autism Society “Sensory Friendly Movie Screenings” program (although not in 3D for our Sensory Friendly audiences). 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 list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Coming July 26th: PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE
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Editor’s note: Although How To Train Your Dragon 2 has been chosen by the Autism Society as this month’s Sensory Friendly screening, it has been rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for adventure action and some mild rude humor. As always, please check the IMDB Parent’s Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
May 31st, MALEFICENT is Magnificent as a Sensory Friendly Film
Last updated on September 13th, 2015 at 02:18 am
Since 2007, AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and with other special needs ”Sensory Friendly Movie Screenings“ – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy their favorite “family-friendly” 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! “It can be challenging enough to bring ANY child to a movie theater” says PedSafe 
Special Needs Parenting Expert Rosie Reeves. “For a parent with a special needs child attempting an outing like this may seem overwhelming. And yet getting out, being with the community and sharing in an experience with an audience can be invaluable for just such children”.
On Saturday October 5th at 10am local time, Maleficent will be screened as part of the Autism Society “Sensory Friendly Movie Screenings” program. 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 list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).
Coming June 21st: How to Train Your Dragon 2
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Editor’s note: Although Maleficent has been chosen by the Autism Society as this month’s Sensory Friendly screening, we do want parents to know that it is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for sequences of fantasy action and violence, including frightening images. As always, please check the IMDB Parent’s Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your child.
Severity of Child Autism Tied to Motor Skills Development Delays
Last updated on May 14th, 2014 at 08:17 pm
In yet another newly discovered early sign of autism, researchers from Oregon State University have shown that motor skill deficiencies are present in very young children with autism. The study is the first to show how the severity of the delay may also correlate with the severity of a child’s autism. Both fine and gross motor skills may be affected, however the child’s intelligence is usually not affected.
Fine and gross motor skills should be addressed as part of an early treatment plan for children with autism. Lead researcher Meghan McDonald believes that improvements in these areas will help the child’s brain overcome other challenges of autism. Improvements of any kind will certainly help the child feel accomplished, less frustrated and contribute to overall quality of life and well-being.
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Editor’s Note: The study titled “Motor Skills and Calibrated Autism Severity in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder” was published in the April 2014 issue of the journal Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. An overview of the study can be found here.
The Latest Autism Statistics and How They May Be Wrong
Last updated on January 17th, 2021 at 03:15 pm
You probably heard about the latest statistics on the incidence of autism according to research by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The newest ratio is 1 in 68 children, although many believe that number is still too low.
The research only includes children who have been screened by a healthcare professional or a school, so anyone living without healthcare or doesn’t go to school is not included in the data. This also misses any special needs child who is having “a good day”on testing day as well as parents who were talked out of testing by doctors, teachers or family members.
Despite all the progress that has been made to mainstream special needs children with autism or other conditions, many cultures still tend to ignore or deny these conditions. While they may fool themselves into thinking they are preserving their family’s “honor” or whatever they want to call it, this attitude robs the children of the crucial early intervention that could literally change the course of their future.
Autism Speaks has produced some beautiful PSAs with the Ad Council that target certain communities and educate the public about the early signs of autism. I hope other advocacy groups will come forward with similar encouragement so that all challenges will be allowed to come out of hiding and given the chance to fulfill as much potential as possible. I hope we can erase all the stigmas one day.
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Editors Note: excerpted from Autism Speaks…(some of the early signs mentioned above)
The following “red flags” may indicate your child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder. If your child exhibits any of the following, please don’t delay in asking your pediatrician or family doctor for an evaluation:
- No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter
- No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by nine months
- No babbling by 12 months
- No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
- No words by 16 months
- No meaningful, two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
- Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
One additional resource worth checking: This fall, Autism Parenting Magazine released an updated post and guide on the Signs of Autism in Girls. You can check out the article here.
