Sensory friendly movies for people with autism arrive in the Philippines

From the Manila Bulletin in the Philippines:

In April 2009, Angel-blogger Pinky Cuaycong (of Okasaneko Chronicles) wrote:

Alphonse has always loved movies, and were it up to him, he would watch the same movie over and over again (on TV monitor) without ever tiring of it.
This love for movies, however, has never been translated into the outside world. Alphonse has never watched a movie in a real cinema. Once, when he was a lot younger, we tried to bring him to a screening of Mulan, a full-length Disney movie we thought he’d like, but the darkened theater and the deafening sounds were simply too much for his senses, and they completely unnerved him. As soon as the lights were turned down low and the trailers started, he shrieked and cried so loudly that we hurriedly ran for the nearest exit to prevent a full-scale meltdown. He was almost four then. We’ve never tried it again since then.

(Movies on) television is often a source of comfort for many individuals with autism. It is accessible and readily available. Movies in cinemas, however, are another matter altogether. Movie theaters are often inaccessible to individuals with autism because these provide too much sensory input (via sound and light) that can overwhelm the person’s senses.

Moreover, because movie-going is almost always a social experience, individuals with autism find it hard to work within the rules of social movie watching. Noises are normally discouraged in theaters, as are frequently standing up, moving around, and making unnecessary body movements. As such, individuals with autism often feel unwelcome in this environment and would avoid it altogether.

Like so many other families with autism in their lives, we’ve long given up on the idea of watching a movie as a family. We’ve learned to sublimate this desire, even if once in a while, you still can hear Big Brother Alex sigh whimsically and say “I wish Alphonse were here with us” on the occasions we bring him to the movies.

Five months later, this wish of the Cuaycong family, and those of others like them, was granted.

Sensory-friendly movie (SfM) showing in the Philippines (and perhaps in Asia) was launched on Sept. 25, 2009 at SM Cinema 3 of SM North EDSA’s The Block. Autism Society Philippines again sought partnership with SM Committee on Disability Affairs (SMCDA) for this innovative approach to autism and the movie experience.

Showings of SfM are designed to minimize adverse sensory experiences (usually encountered by most persons with autism) and maximize enjoyment. Low lights are left on during the show, sound volume is reduced, and trailers or film previews are left out to cut waiting time. Viewers with autism, especially children, can move around and make noise, allowing them the freedom to enjoy the movies without the usual social restrictions to hamper their experience.

SM treated 200 students with autism from different SpEd (special education) schools in Quezon City during the SfM launch. They were accompanied by excited parents, caregivers and teachers. SMCDA chairman Bien Mateo vowed to roll this SfM project in other SM Cinemas nationwide. SM strongly believes that the move will certainly benefit the more than 600,000 Filipino families dealing with autism in different parts of the country.

It was not an empty promise.

Our Angel Talker from Davao, Jane Gonzales, wrote from their end in Mindanao: The autism community in Davao City received an early Christmas treat on Dec. 11, 2009. SfM showing came to Cinema 1 of SM City Davao.

It was an exciting experience for those invited to watch the movie “A Christmas Carol” - around 400 people composed of children with autism, their families, teachers and caregivers.

ASP Davao officers, led by chapter president Eric Acosta, and the management of SM City Davao, headed by Debby A. Go, were not only eager in planning for the event. They were also very curious about this novel project.

The SM Cinema went out of their way in providing lights in the normally “dark and scary” alleys of the entrance to the movie theater. They toned down the sounds to a comfortable volume for the children.

Some children who were afraid of the dark were surprised to find subdued lights inside the theater. Judging from the comments of some parents that it was their first time to convince their child to enter a movie house, we could say that the SfM was a great success.

Amazingly, the viewers, most especially the children with autism, were able to stay on until the end of the show. This includes those who had never been to the movies before SfM.

If there is one measure of success that can be attributed to the SfM, it lies on the fact that the families gathered during showing of the SfM felt united and happy with one another. Everybody was just glad that the opportunity was there to meet other children from various autism schools/centers and belong to one group of people who understood the differences among children with autism.

Another SfM showing was held at SM Cinema 4 of Baguio City, Jan. 30. ASP Baguio chapter partnered with PMA Bantay Laya ’94 Ladies Club and the Play & Say Therapy Center. Aside from 20 percent discount for viewers with autism, they will be treated to snacks while in the movies. Even Baguio City Mayor Reynaldo Bautista sponsored tickets.

The first sensory-friendly film showing in US was in November of 2007. That year, Marianne Ross and her then seven-year-old daughter with autism were asked to leave a movie theater when Meaghan started flapping her hands and jumping up and down.

Ross turned this negative experience around by jumpstarting a program that aimed to provide a safe entertainment haven for children like her daughter. It was a big success and, with support from Autism Society of America and AMC Entertainment (owner of AMC Cinemas chain), the program went national, on a monthly basis, in April of last year.

In UK, the National Autistic Society and Picturehouse Cinemas partnered in Jan. 2009 to start their own autism-friendly film screenings. At any one time in England, 16 movie theaters across the country host these screenings once a month.

In both countries, their respective autism societies and partner cinema chains have gotten so organized that they already have a dedicated page in their websites solely for screening schedules.

Monthly showings of SfM nationwide in the Philippines? That is not an impossible dream with our SfM Autism Angels.

Alphonse’ mother waited until he was 15 years old before she could bring him inside a cinema to enjoy a movie. Others need not wait that long.