Planning a Sensory-Friendly Cinema Trip

A loving sister shares the beauty of inclusivity in common family activities, detailing how simple accommodations ensure children on the spectrum can share in all the fun.

As parents of a child on the spectrum, it can sometimes be a daunting task to select activities suitable for your child. There are so many questions that flood your mind, will it be too loud, will my child be triggered, will I cause a scene, and will my child even enjoy it? It is questions like these that can deter you from having a valuable and memorable experience with your child.

It is often easier to just say no and have a quiet night at home. I am here to tell you that there are accommodations being made by organizations across the world for individuals on the spectrum.

Planning a day out with your child shouldn’t cause you stress. It should be a fun experience that you can look back on fondly.

It starts with a sense of belonging

In my personal experience and opinion, one of the biggest struggles for anyone on the spectrum is a sense of belonging. Nobody wants to feel alone, be it your child or you as a parent.

It is estimated that 1 in 44 children may be on the autism spectrum. The stigma, the taboo, the isolation, and the ridicule of individuals on the spectrum need to stop. As humans, we must protect each other and encourage one another.

Together, with all our combined knowledge, we can create a comfortable world for everyone on the spectrum. There is a whole world to experience; just because your child is on the spectrum doesn’t mean that they should have to miss out on anything.

The cinema

An option you may not have considered is taking your child to the cinema. Certain cinema chains have implemented special sensory and subtitled screenings designed to make the cinema experience a comfortable one for those with sensory sensitivities.

Taking your child to a sensory and subtitled showing at a cinema may even allow you the opportunity to connect with other families in your community. This will help you to build a support network.
Making cinema visits happen

I have a few tips that I would like to share with you to make your trip to the cinema a comfortable and enjoyable one. The first thing I do is research the venue that I am planning to go to ahead of time.

This does take a bit of planning, but trust me, it is definitely worth it. There are a couple of ways you can do this, such as through online research or by phoning the establishment. This is to find out if they do have any provisions and accommodations for individuals on the spectrum.

It is very important to bear in mind that there aren’t blanket accommodations that a venue can make that will suit everyone’s needs, as the autism spectrum is very broad. Find out what facilities are available. These are some of the questions you can ask:

• Does the cinema have a menu?
• What’s on the menu?
• Is it loud inside?
• Are there flashing lights?

Of course, nobody knows your child better than you, so ask the questions that are relevant to your child’s individual sensitivities.

For example (and this isn’t a cinema trip but is comparable), I recently took my family out to indoor crazy golf. My younger brother Scott has Down’s syndrome and autism. He found the different sounds and sound effects were starting to get to him after playing crazy golf for about an hour.

Instead of drawing attention to the sounds, I knew from researching beforehand that the venue offered ice cream sundaes. Scott loves ice cream sundaes, so we simply paused our game at that moment and proceeded to get Scott a sundae.

Even though the sound effects were still present, he was so focused on enjoying his ice cream that the sound effects didn’t even phase him anymore. After he enjoyed his ice cream, we went on to play for another hour. It is all about redirection.

Some children who are on the spectrum struggle with processing multiple sounds. This doesn’t necessarily mean they need to wear headphones. If you can distract your child with something else, this is a good way to teach your child coping skills.

I prefer the distraction approach over blocking something out with headphones and not learning ways to cope. Of course, if headphones make your child more comfortable and feel safer, then absolutely use them.

Bring along things that comfort your child and provide them with a sense of security. It could be a book, a blanket, a fidget spinner, or even something like a mug or travel cup that they like to drink from. Again, these are to redirect your child’s attention and allow them to connect with something familiar.

The world can be a scary place for a child. Even more so for a child on the spectrum. Never lose your temper or punish your child for just reacting to their sensory needs. This can cause them to develop a negative relationship with their own sensory sensitivities.

It ends with more accommodations and a changing of the world

Autism Parenting Magazine (APM) is a great tool; the advice given, the stories shared, and the community it continues to foster benefit many in the neurodiverse community. As a regular writer for this amazing magazine, I want to share details about the cinema chain I work for, as I believe readers of APM may be interested in the cinematic experience it provides. Omniplex cinemas, which are based across Ireland and Northern Ireland, are industry leaders in inclusion and diversity.

The cinema chain, which was established in 1991, offers Sensory and Subtitled Showings of all the latest blockbusters every weekend across all their sites. During these showings, the side lights are kept on, the sound is adjusted, and there are subtitles on the screen. Omniplex has stepped up in a huge way for individuals on the spectrum, allowing everyone to be able to enjoy the cinema experience.

As General Manager of the Omniplex in Armagh, it brings me such joy when I can tell parents of children on the spectrum that we have dedicated showings designed to make the cinema experience comfortable for sensory sensitivities.

This should be an eye-opener, indicating that the world is evolving, becoming more inclusive and diverse. There is absolutely no reason why you and your family cannot enjoy the same things as everyone else. I hope this inspires you to get out there and investigate what is available and take a stand for that which isn’t!.