Autism-friendly movie screenings becoming more popular

From The Hartford Courant:

SIMSBURY, Conn. - This is a sight usually not seen at a movie theater: parents dragging their kids kicking and screaming to see an animated film.

Four-year-old Spencer Calverley was in his father's arms, acting out the kind of tantrum seen so often by parents — except this time his parents were explaining that there was nothing scary about going into a movie theater to see " Madagascar:
Escape 2 Africa."

"We've been explaining it, but anything new is hard," said his mother, Christine Calverley of Torrington.

Many parents would blush over such behavior at a movie, but Saturday morning at the Hoyts Simsbury Commons 8 was a little different.

"Here, it's a judgment-free zone," Calverley said.The theater in Simsbury broke all the rules for moviegoers at two special showings of "Madagascar 2."

The lights were dimmed, but not turned off; the sound was turned down; there were no commercials or previews before the movie; and the youngsters in the audience were allowed to run around, climb up and down steps, talk, shout, scream and cry loudly without being asked to leave.

The special screenings, scheduled at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, were orchestrated by Simsbury resident Diana Yeisley. She understands the difficulty that parents of children with autism and other sensory disorders, such as Spencer, have controlling behavior in an environment where silence and sitting still for hours at a time is the norm.

Many people with autism and sensory disorders have trouble vocalizing their pain or discomfort and use self-stimulation, also called stimming, to express their thoughts. It often sounds like a loud hum or dull scream.

Yeisley worked with the cinema's general manager to reserve the 290-seat theater for the morning show and advertised the screening at schools and through word of mouth. The reaction was so great, she said, that she bought out the theater for a second show.

Because of the overwhelming response, she said, she plans to work with Hoyts and other movie-theater companies around the state to organize more of these screenings.

"I know a lot of autism families who have never been to the movies because every child with autism also has a lot of sensory disorders, so sights, sounds or crowds are very difficult for individuals," said Yeisley, whose 8-year-old son has autism. "However, this is a population that likes movies a lot. I don't know the last time I've actually seen the end of the movie, because it just gets too difficult and we have to leave."

While this may be the first such showing in Connecticut, similar events have taken place around the country in the past couple of years.

The most well-known are hosted by AMC Entertainment in partnership with the Autism Society of America, based in Bethesda, Md. Since August, AMC and the
autism society have held monthly "sensory friendly films," as they call them, in a dozen states, society spokeswoman Carin Yavorcik said.

"It's a safe and accepting environment," Yavorcik said. "We hear so many great things from families. They'll tell us: 'This is the first time we're able to go out together as a family.'"

But the experience was still trying for some families Saturday. As soon as the screen came to life with bright colors and characters and the film's music began, Noah Ridgeway, 4, jumped down from his cushy chair and huddled behind the seat in front of him, using his small hands to prop himself up so his eyes could peer over the seat.

"I scared, I scared!" he yelled to his mother, Charlene Ridgeway of Simsbury."It's OK, sweetie," she said, hugging him, then giving him a juice box. Noah's autism spectrum disorder causes him to be scared by loud noises and things that are new to him. When she heard about the screening, Ridgeway realized she would be able to give her son the same opportunity that she enjoyed as a child.

"I thought it was awesome. I could never take him to a regular movie," she said. "I always dreamed about movies when I was a kid, and I'm happy he could see it on the big screen."

After the movie, Shannon Knall of Simsbury said the experience was a blessing for her family, which includes 7-year-old Jack, who has autism spectrum disorder. Previous trips to the movies meant having to bring earplugs, getting kicked out or having to walk out.

"This was fantastic," Knall said. "We've been waiting for this for years."