Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is an AMC Sensory Friendly Film
Last updated on May 26th, 2016 at 10:10 am
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 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, 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 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising tomorrow, Tuesday, May 24th 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 soon: Alice Through the Looking Glass (Sat, 5/28)
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Editor’s note: Although Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising 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 crude sexual content including brief graphic nudity, language throughout, drug use and teen partying. 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.
Dropping the Rope: Letting My Special Needs Child Grow
Last updated on May 14th, 2016 at 12:53 am
My child recently started behavioral therapy. I have written before about the fine line between helping and enabling and my desire for her to be more independent – even if she doesn’t want to be. I mean, who wouldn’t rather have someone else do their chores for them? What kid really wants to sit down and do homework? But whether she wants to do things or not, I know she CAN do things and I want her to know she can do things, too. And let’s face it, one day I may not be around to help her do things. I hope it’s because she is off living a fabulous life on her own, but for whatever reason there will probably be a day in the future when I am not there to do things for her. So to help with the tantrums, the resistance, the arguing, the avoidance, the rushing through tasks and all the rest of the many-layered issue, we called in experts.
At first it was great. My child was charming and cooperative. Then one day when she was really being pushed to do her chores she started screaming for me. Being a special needs parent has given me Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (special thank you to all the service men and women) and when she started screaming for me I flashed back to her early physical therapy sessions as a baby. Her amazing therapist would fold and twist her little body and she would complain in her baby way and reach out to me. The therapist would assure me that she was not being hurt, although the positions might feel uncomfortable but in the long run this was all going to benefit her. It was the same with all the doctor visits, tests and procedures – she would cry, complain, reach out for me and I was unable to help her or save her. I knew was doing what was best for her, but it didn’t make it any easier to live through. It still isn’t.
We all know that you can’t reason with a child mid-tantrum, and although her toddler days are long behind her these objections and stalling tactics are very tantrum-adjacent. I try to reason with her and explain why the chores, the homework and the therapy are all necessary, but my words bounce off of her and we just end up in an endless cycle of her whining and me trying to reason with her.. Finally one of the therapists told me to drop the rope.
What rope?
It’s a game of tug of war, and the only way to win is to drop the rope. It was (and is) a revelation.
Her therapist is much more even – doesn’t cave and doesn’t scream, unlike me. In the middle of these sessions, when she is wailing and complaining, she calls for me to help her….but I can’t! It is good for her in the long run, although it is torture in the moment. Her brothers put on headphones or head to the farthest corners of the house to escape the wailing, while I stay close enough to monitor but far enough away to avoid interfering. I have dropped the rope. It is making me look around for other places in my life I should drop the rope. What ropes should you drop?
The Huntsman: Winter’s War is Sensory Friendly Tomorrow at AMC
Last updated on April 27th, 2016 at 10:02 am
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 The Huntsman: Winter’s War, 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 Huntsman: Winter’s War tomorrow, Tuesday, April 26th 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 soon: Captain America: Civil War (Tues, 5/10 and Sat, 5/14)
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Editor’s note: Although The Huntsman: Winter’s War 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 fantasy action violence 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.
This Saturday, See The Jungle Book Sensory Friendly at AMC
Last updated on April 25th, 2016 at 12:25 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” are offering the chance to see The Jungle Book on Saturday, April 23rd at 10am local tune. 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 Huntsman Winter’s War (Tues, 4/26)
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Editor’s note: Although The Jungle Book 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 sequences of scary action and peril. 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.
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.
The Road Ahead For Special Needs Kids: Aging Out of School
Last updated on March 30th, 2016 at 11:28 am
Although we continue to improve the educational opportunities and outcomes of our special needs kids, as they age out of school there are a whole new set of challenges ahead of them – and us. Many high-functioning individuals are very employable, and training and vocational programs may prepare some young adults for jobs. Others are lucky enough to be born into a family business which is familiar and comfortable and for which they have been training literally their entire lives. Some families get creative and start businesses based on the strengths and talents of their members with special needs.
Some of these businesses are small, operating out of a basement or even on the kitchen table. Some go on to bigger things, like Emma Lynam in Australia, who thanks to her mother is now the “Master Shredder.” Emma’s low reading level guarantees that she won’t be spying on her clients’ sensitive documents before destroying them. ArcBarks is a dog treat company in North Carolina started by a mom to give her son and others like him a productive way to use their time. Their treats are now sold in over 150 locations and online.
Rising Tide car wash first caught my eye a few years ago. The family has taken their successful car wash beyond a local business that employs people on the spectrum. They are now doing speaking engagements and, through their Rising Tide U, offering presentations and information on how to start a business using the talents of people with autism, although the information would be useful for any other syndrome or diagnosis.
If you are not lucky enough to live near any wonderful programs or services you can still work on helping your special needs child (or teen or adult) gain skills that will lead to independence or even employment. Take an inventory of the skills this individual has mastered. Also take note of any passions – would this person be more willing to bake for people, or would knowing these treats were destined for dogs be an additional motivation? What chores does this individual do at home, and is it something others would be willing to pay for? A dad in Canada gets his nonverbal son hired to build IKEA furniture for people! What is in demand in your area – snow shoveling? Dog walking?
Another way to get training that can lead to employment is through volunteering. This also helps get the individual out into the community and avoids the issue of losing benefits if too much money is earned. An animal rescue in my area allows children to volunteer as long as a parent is with them (and as long as that parent signs a waiver, of course). Community events also offer training in 
planting, landscaping and other activities that can translate to job skills. Donating items that are either gathered or made to charities can also be a tax deduction that may help the family finances.
Many parents and families of people with special needs find that working from home or running their own business also allows them the flexibility needed to handle appointments, therapy sessions or health challenges. It can be a challenging road but some people are finding creative, brilliant ways of navigation.
