Sensory Friendly Screening of Wonder, Tomorrow Night at AMC
Last updated on January 1st, 2018 at 02:47 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 Wonder, 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 Wonder, sensory friendly tomorrow, Tuesday, December 12th at 7pm (local time). Tickets can be as low as $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).
Still to come in December: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Sat 12/23) and (Tues 12/26)
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Editor’s note: Wonder has been chosen by AMC and the Autism Society for a Tuesday Sensory Friendly “Mature Audience” screening. Parents should be advised that it is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for thematic elements including bullying, and some mild language. 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 family.
Help with Holiday Hurdles for Special Needs Kids
Last updated on January 1st, 2018 at 02:47 pm
Holiday Traditions
Special needs parents and caregivers come up against the spectre of expectations on a daily basis, but the holidays can bring up even more challenges. You may have your ideal holiday all planned out in your mind, or be burdened with visions of holidays past, but your child with special needs may be unable or unwilling to go along with the images in your head. This is certainly true to for typical kids and teens, too!
Religious services
While you may get comfort from attending some form of worship, to a person with special needs a church, temple or other holy place may seem scary. There are strange smells, loud sounds and crowds. This can all be too over stimulating for certain people.
Some places of worship are starting to offer services geared to those with special needs, or may offer an alternative activity while the parents attend services. If these options are not available in your area, ask for them to be initiated – or help to start them yourself. Headphones, earplugs and even surgical masks may help with excessive sensory input. Weighted vests or special fidgets or stuffed animals may offer a sense of being grounded or calmness.
Social expectations
Let’s say you open a present from Great Aunt Ethel. It is a sweater, and you don’t really like it, but you know that you should still say thank you. Some people with special needs lack that politeness filter and may blurt out their honest feelings, such as “that is an ugly sweater.” Not only is Great Aunt Ethel offended but the parents of the child with special needs may also come under fire for not teaching the child “good manners.” Too bad no one taught Great Aunt Ethel good taste, then this awkward situation would have been avoided.
Maybe waiting to open gifts in private could help spare Great Aunt Ethel’s feelings, and of course a polite thank you note afterwards would be appreciated.
Holiday Gatherings and Visits – even to the North Pole
Visiting friends and family can be challenging due to strange environments, new people and changes in routine.
Bring familiar items and if necessary, favorite foods you know your child will eat. Social stories where you can rehearse acceptable responses are helpful, and de-sensitization practices may help make new places less problematic when you visit them beforehand while they are empty.
Your holiday tradition may include a visit to Santa. As a former Macy’s Herald Square Elf I can tell you that as nice a person as Santa is, to a small child this giant man in a vibrant red suit can seem terrifying! Screams, crying and squirming are common responses even from neurotypical children. If your child with special needs truly can’t handle an encounter with Mr. Kringle please don’t force them – you are trying to make a happy memory for kids, not torture them.
Check local malls or a We Rock The Spectrum location for Sensitive Santa, which is a crowd-free visit with subdued lighting and low or no music. Many special needs families have gotten their very first happy holiday photo thanks to these events. Waving to Santa from across the mall or a photo with Santa far in the background may also be a fun alternative to standing in a long line to meet him face to face.
It isn’t just visiting the jolly elf that may bring up tough situations – Great Aunt Ethel may bring her own set of problems. At her house the rules may be different, which is difficult and possibly even upsetting for individuals with special needs. Even if she comes to your house she may upset the usual environment; she may wear a strong perfume or change the usual mealtimes. While you may want that photo of your child and Great Aunt Ethel snuggling by the fire, your child may want nothing to do with her.
Give your child some space. A group photo may be more tolerable for your child. After some time your child may become comfortable with new people and new settings. Let them ease in at their own speed.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Editor’s Note: Autism Speaks is a co-sponsor of Sensory-Friendly Santa. Click here to find one in your area.
Sensory Friendly Screening of Justice League, Tomorrow at AMC
Last updated on December 2nd, 2017 at 01:13 pm
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 Justice League sensory friendly tomorrow, Tuesday, November 28th at 7pm (local time). Tickets can be as low as $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 December: Coco (Sat 12/9); Wonder (Tues 12/12); Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Sat 12/23) and (Tues 12/26)
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Editor’s note: Justice League has been chosen by AMC and the Autism Society for a Tuesday Sensory Friendly “Mature Audience” screening. Parents should be advised that it is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for sequences of sci-fi violence 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 family.
Saturday Take The Kids To See COCO, It’s Sensory Friendly at AMC
Last updated on December 2nd, 2017 at 01:13 pm
Since 2007, 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“.
Families affected by autism or other special needs can view a sensory friendly screening of Coco on Saturday, November 25th and December 9th at 10am (local time). Tickets are as low as $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).
Still to come in November: Justice League (Tues 11/28)
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Editor’s note: Although Coco 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 some thematic elements. 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 family.
Thor: Ragnarok is Sensory Friendly Twice in November at AMC
Last updated on November 17th, 2017 at 11:32 pm
Since 2007, 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“.
Families affected by autism or other special needs can view a sensory friendly screening of Thor: Ragnarok on Saturday, November 11th at 10am and Tuesday November 14th at 7pm (local time). Tickets are typically $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).
Still to come in November: Thor: Ragnarok (Tues 11/14); COCO (Sat 11/25); Justice League (Tues 11/28)
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Editor’s note: Although Thor: Ragnarok 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 sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive material. 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 family.
How to Handle Your Child’s Learning Disabilities Diagnosis
Last updated on November 17th, 2017 at 11:35 pm
Having a learning disability diagnosed can be difficult, and in some cases it isn’t clear what the learning disability is or why it happened.
However, your child’s abilities and needs can be assessed to make sure they get the support they need.
Learning disability diagnosis
Some learning disabilities are discovered at birth, while others are not diagnosed until much later. If your child is diagnosed at or around birth – for example, with Down’s syndrome – their doctors probably won’t be able to tell you exactly how it will affect their development. The extent of your child’s disability will become clearer as they reach the ages when they should be talking, walking or reading.
For children who are not diagnosed at birth, finding out they have a learning disability can take time. “The main problem is that learning disabilities are quite hard to diagnose very early in life,” says Dr Martin Ward Platt, consultant paediatrician at Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
“There may be very little in the way of developmental signs. If a child hasn’t started talking by the age of two, that can be linked to learning problems later on, but this is not certain.”
Most learning disabilities are obvious by the age of five. “Intellectual function [also known as cognitive ability] can only be assessed by testing children from the age of five, so most children with these disabilities are only diagnosed when they start school,” says Dr Ward Platt.
Even after a diagnosis is made, it can be hard to tell how it will affect your child in the future. However, your child’s current needs can be assessed to work out what kind of support will help them, and they will be referred to a paediatrician (a specialist in child health). You can talk to parents of children with learning disabilities in your area to ask whether they can recommend a good one.
Find a local learning disabilities support group in the UK through Mencap**.
Getting a learning disability diagnosis
In the UK – under the Children and Families Act 2014, social services has a duty to assess children in need, including children with disabilities. The aim is to identify the child’s specific education and healthcare needs and draw up a plan of action for meeting these needs. (**see below for resources in the U.S.)
For more information on all aspects of being a carer in the UK, including practical support, financial matters and looking after your own wellbeing, see Care and support.
If you believe your child has an undiagnosed condition, your GP (*doctor) should be able to help you to get the advice you need. The UK charity Scope’s expert forum includes advice for families who can’t get a diagnosis**.
Your child may also benefit from an assessment of your care and support needs.** The assessment establishes the needs of a child with a disability and which services would be best for them. The purpose of the assessment is to draw up a plan of action for your child.
After diagnosis
If you’ve had concerns about your child, you might feel relieved to have a diagnosis. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions. Find out as much as you can about your child’s needs.
Most parents assume their children will be healthy and develop normally, so hearing that your child has a learning disability can come as a shock. It takes time to accept the diagnosis and to mourn the child you might feel you have lost.
Talking to your child’s doctors, nurses, support groups or friends and family can help, although friends and family might need their own time to accept what has happened. Many parents find it helpful to contact other UK families** who have been through the same thing, as talking to other parents can be a useful source of support.
Counselling can also help, so ask your health visitor or GP (*doctor) for recommendations.
Developmental delay
The term “developmental delay” is sometimes used to describe a child’s condition if they are not progressing as expected. “By itself, ‘developmental delay’ is not a diagnosis,” says Dr Ward Platt. The main issues when assessing a child for learning disability are:
- By how much is the child delayed, and in which areas?
- Are there areas in which the child is not delayed?
- What explanation for any delay might lie in the child’s background (such as a long stay in hospital for an unrelated condition)?
- What underlying medical condition might explain the delay?
- Is the delay likely to be the product of a low level of care and inadequate stimulation in the home?
Delay is not always significant. “Some children are slow to walk, so may appear to be delayed. But if one of the parents was very slow to walk, then it’s likely the delay just runs in the family,” says Dr Ward Platt.
Check out our selection of apps to help people with learning disabilities in our Digital Apps Library.
Editor’s Note: *clarification provided for our US readers.
** Resources in the United States
- Learning Disability Associates of America – State and Local Affiliate – can help locate support groups
- PBS Parents Experts advise on Diagnosing Learning disabilities
- Healthfinder.gov – can aid in identifying government resources available to assist carers supporting family members with disabilities.
- Benefits for Children with Disabilities
- Care.com – community – connect with families with special needs
From www.nhs.uk
