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Original poster

autisim cinema trips

59 replies

wonderingsoul · 31/07/2013 12:12

i hope you dont mind me posting this, but as its one of the buiset fourums i posted it here and special needs.

whilst browing my local cineworld i came apoun this and thought it was a great idea. at the moment its only once a month, but hopfully it'll turn weekly.

www.cineworld.co.uk/blog/autism_friendly_screenings

OP posts:
Beastofburden · 31/07/2013 12:16

I found them very good, except they do tend to get taken over by NT toddlers whose mums then tut at the autistic teens for whom it is meant...

BlackeyedSusan · 31/07/2013 12:23

thanks

i shall be abe to take caring carrot sticks if we go

Sirzy · 31/07/2013 12:27

That's so wrong beast. I would never dream of taking DS (3.7) to such a showing as I am aware that sometimes he might be a bit loud or disruptive which could easily undo the purpose of such a showing.

Beastofburden · 31/07/2013 12:41

Sirzy, nobody would mind that, as the other teens are also loud and disruptive- many are non verbal so they make loud unexpected howl kind of noises. Others have loud conversations about the film or the lighting. And lots of them move about during the film. Toddler yelling and chuntering around is fine, really- certainly no noisier than the other kids.

What really matters in these showings is they keep the lights turned on, and the sound turned down, and they dont show the 400 bloody adverts first, you go straight into the film. It's sitting in the dark, while cinema grade soundtrack crashes round your head, and the film doesnt start for ages, that tends to set them off during normal showings.

So toddlers welcome IMHO but their parents do have to not tut at our DC for being the way they are. We know, thats why we take them to the autistic showing, not the standard showing....

MrsTedMosby · 31/07/2013 12:45

I would bloody hope no one would tut at any of the kids at their special showing.

I'm very lucky that DS can tolerate the cinema, so I take him to normal showings, usually the £1 one as it's so blooming expensive, and no one is too bothered about him occasionally shouting out as it's full of little kids doing the same. As long as he has popcorn he is happy!

Mogz · 31/07/2013 12:47

Seems like a fantastic idea to me, I wish this had been available years ago when I looked after a couple of autistic boys, I think I'll send that link to their mum.

WestieMamma · 31/07/2013 12:47

I'm not too keen on the 'no allocated seating' bit. That would be autistic unfriendly to me. Some people like to know exactly where they are going to be sitting and to decide where that will be eg only a seat with nobody sat behind, or a seat near an exit or next to the aisle.

Beastofburden · 31/07/2013 12:50

westie, these showings are usually half empty so there is no problem finding what you want.

Beastofburden · 31/07/2013 12:51

the thing is, the toddlers sometimes get scared by the big men yelling. But tough, dont come then...

WestieMamma · 31/07/2013 12:53

westie, these showings are usually half empty so there is no problem finding what you want.

I still wouldn't risk it. I'd only go if I knew 100% that I'd get the seat I wanted.

Original poster
wonderingsoul · 31/07/2013 12:56

i would imagin if you phoned up they would save the seat for you.

beast that would make me see red. adults tuting and making comment.. they shouldnt have gone to a showing which is done with thought to people with autism and special needs in mind then, and i would hope they would be thrown out or at least have some having a word with them.

OP posts:
Arkady · 31/07/2013 13:00

Picturehouse cinemas have these screenings too. Ours are at least fortnightly.

Beastofburden · 31/07/2013 13:28

i just grin, because in some cases they clearly thought they were being so clever, talking their DC to a quieter showing, and suddenly they get an up close and detailed look at why we have those separate screenings. In some cases it seems to be their first experience of young adults with LDs and autism- much, much bigger, noisier and hairier than the cute little SEN kid at nursery. You can see them thinking, perhaps this was not a great idea after all... but they do mutter and tut among themselves.

Eyesunderarock · 31/07/2013 13:33

' much, much bigger, noisier and hairier than the cute little SEN kid at nursery. '

Grin Oh yes!

Groovee · 31/07/2013 13:33

Odeon have been doing these for a while. I had shared their fb status and a few friends who hadn't know about them were grateful to know as their children are unable to go to normal day to day ones where as these ones suited their needs greatly.

Beastofburden · 31/07/2013 13:34

Wesite, I am sure they would save you a seat, or let you in first so you get first pick. I did find to start with that DS2 was unsettled by some of the other behaviours around us- and I saw that in other kids too. if you have one kid that has planned a completely quiet experience (and has chosen the seat to be part of that) and will panic and freak out if that is changed; and also another kid who needs to comment loudly on the light levels, who is in the cinema, what the seat is like, how much popcorn is left, etc etc- both of them is likely to find the other unexpected and unsetling. So if predictability is a very important part of it, the other kids may be more unpredictable than the seating.

DS2 did get used to it though, and is now able to go without me (with Parasol or similar) which is even better- though I was a bit gutted that he has seen Despicable me2 and I havent Envy

LemonBreeland · 31/07/2013 13:39

I found out about these a while ago when I visited a cinema website. I didn't know they existed either. I don't have the need for them, but thought that they would be more widely advertised and known about in the SEN community.

It seems a shame that cinemas offer these thigns and people aren't aware of them.

Eyesunderarock · 31/07/2013 13:49

The word does spread though Lemon, it's a fairly new venture for many cinemas. Smile

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 31/07/2013 13:51

This is such a great idea

And there are theatre performances as well AFAIK

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 31/07/2013 13:52

The Lion King

BiscuitDunker · 31/07/2013 14:05

I'm now going to look online at my local cinema and see if they do the special autism screenings! My dd is almost 4 and I've wanted to take her to the cinema for over a year now but because of her ASD I've never risked it because I know she wouldn't sit still and would make quite a lot of noise which isn't fair on all the "normal" people trying to watch a film.

Had no idea these screenings existed! Thanks OP! Grin

Original poster
wonderingsoul · 31/07/2013 14:12

i think this is a new thing cinieworld has been doing. as this is the second showing. but going from the other post's its been a round for a while.

its such a simple thing aswell. it should be better advertised.

OP posts:
AudrinaAdare · 31/07/2013 14:13

beastofburden I would go mad if anyone did that to me and DS at a screening for children with S.N.

It's always surprising how little empathy so many non-autistic people are capable of showing Hmm

Beastofburden · 31/07/2013 14:17

The worst I do is catch their eye and raise one eyebrow... that is of course the British equivalent of chucking a brick at their heads Grin. They then go very red and start counting the popcorn at the bottom of the packet....

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