North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
Sensory-Friendly Movie Screenings for NYC Kids
[UPDATED: July 19, 2012]
Like any parent, I’m always on the prowl for cool things to do with my kids. However, as the mother of an autistic son, our activity choices have to fit certain sensory criteria. My 9-year-old son Jake can't be exposed to overpowering or sudden noises, and he doesn't do well in very dark rooms. He also jumps up and flaps his arms when he's excited, so he needs a good amount of personal space.
Unfortunately, this means that going to the movies—one of Jake's favorite activities—isn't as easy as buying a ticket. Luckily, AMC Theatres has partnered with the Autism Society to offer monthly sensory-friendly family film screenings throughout the U.S., including three theaters right here in New York City.
Read on for details about how these special screenings accommodate children with special sensory needs, and find out about upcoming films in NYC.
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Currently, AMC Theatres is the only national theater chain that offers these sensory-friendly screenings. The company started them at the request of a Maryland mom, whose family was asked to leave a regular screening of Hairspray when her autistic seven-year-old daughter began twirling in her seat. The mom met with the theater manager and explained the situation, and soon AMC hosted its first sensory-friendly film in Columbia, MD. It sold out all 300 seats—in fact, some people were turned away. The demand was that high.
Today, AMC offers monthly sensory-friendly screenings at 152 theaters throughout the U.S. and Canada. The movies are typically new releases shown on Saturday mornings. Each screening accommodates special dietary and attention needs. Families are welcome to bring their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and previews and advertisements are eliminated. The lights are dimmed not turned off, so it's not that dark, and the surround sound is muted. Best of all, our kids are allowed to be themselves. As parents we try to keep them focused, but if they feel like shouting out their thoughts or dancing in the aisles, that's okay. Nobody complains, and nobody is thrown out. As my friend, Fran, also the mother of an autistic child, says, "We feel a connection with nearly everyone during these sensory screenings, like we're all part of a club, even though we don't know each other's names."
Sensory-friendly screenings are always the first showing of the day, and cost the matinee price of $6. The next sensory-friendly screening takes place on Saturday, January 7, and the movie is The Adventures of Tintin. There are three participating theaters in NYC, although there are many more in nearby suburbs.
AMC Loews 84th Street 6 – Upper West Side
2310 Broadway at 84th Street
AMC Bay Plaza Cinema 13 – the Bronx
2210 Bartow Avenue near Co-op City Boulevard
AMC Loews Bay Terrace 6 – Flushing
211-01 26th Avenue
Visit AMC's website for a list of 2012 sensory-friendly screenings and a complete list of participating AMC Theatres.
