Starting this month, AMC Entertainment, in association with the Autism Society of America, will be hosting “sensory friendly” screenings of family movies across the country. These “sensory friendly” screenings feature theaters that lower the volume of the film, raise the lighting in the auditorium, and welcome (or even encourage) patrons to talk, shout, yell, sing, or dance. The program began in Columbia, Maryland, where the parent of an autistic child put in a special request at their local AMC theater. That initial screening was attended by close to 300 parents and children.
This year’s national AMC program, which kicks off on Saturday, April 10th with a showing of How To Train Your Dragon, will feature 93 movie screenings in 47 cities across 30 states. A different film will be shown once a month throughout the summer and fall. The final film to be shown in October is the made-in-Boston flick, The Zookeeper, starring Kevin James. Theaters in the New England area that are participating in the program include Framingham (MA), Danbury and Plainville (CT). For a complete list of participating theaters, click here.
If you are interested in learning about ways you can help fight autism, one simple thing you can do is to shop at our Amazon store by clicking on the tab above called “Shop”and we’ll donate 2% of your purchase made through this link to the May Institute, which provides services to children and adults suffering with the disorder.
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