Theater enters autism's comfort zone
It was raining bacon and eggs, and Julianna Perrault couldn't have been more delighted.
"Ha!" she exclaims loudly. She then looks at her mother, Victoria, and offers a bright smile.
corey r. minkanic/sun-times news group
Later, when another scene on the screen tickles her funny bone, she loudly laughs and begins vigorously rocking back and forth in her chair.
Throughout the early morning screening of "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" on a recent Saturday morning at AMC Cantera 30 in Warrenville, 13-year-old Julianna is free to do as she wishes. When she asks her mom questions about the color of someone's eyes, it's OK she's not whispering.
Yes, it's OK she's talking during the movie.
Elsewhere in the auditorium -- where the lights are turned up and the volume dialed down to a comfortable level -- a young boy runs up and down the stairs of the stadium seating. Later, he makes his way through the rows of chairs.
AMC Theaters, in partnership with the Autism Society of America, host monthly Sensory Friendly Films. These movie screenings provide families affected by autism and other disabilities a chance to see a movie in a safe and accepting environment.
Unlike traditional screenings of films, the lights in the theater are on and the sound is not as loud. Families can bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie.
"Which is great because typically you're sitting through 10 minutes of previews," Victoria Perrault said.
That can make a difference if a child becomes restless, as is often the case with autistic kids.
But perhaps the most important aspect of the Sensory Friendly Screening is the suspension of AMC's "Silence is Golden" policy. That means audience members can talk, shout, walk around, dance, sing or do whatever they feel like -- as long as audience safety isn't in jeopardy.
"Which makes it a relaxing experience for the parents," Perrault said. "You couldn't have the children doing that in a regular showing."
The AMC Cantera 30, 28250 Diehl Road, in Warrenville, is one of three AMC theaters in Illinois offering the screenings. All of the locations are in the Chicago area, with the others take place in Barrington and Northbrook. All Sensory Friendly Films are held at 10 a.m. one Saturday a month. Tickets are $4 to $6, depending on location.
The Sensory Friendly Films give Julianna and her mother another chance to get out into the community. And who doesn't want to go to a movie every now and then?
While Victoria and Julianna Perrault have never left one of these sensory-friendly screenings before, they have had to leave regular movie showings. In fact, "I can't actually even remember sitting through an entire movie in a typical setting with her ever," Perrault said. "I might take her to a movie and 15 minutes into it she might decide it's time to leave."
Julianna has autism; mild ataxic cerebral palsy, which affects her fine and some gross motor skills; and moderate cognitive impairment. She is verbal, makes eye contact and interacts with other people.
"She's a happy girl," her mother said. But Julianna can be loud. And she has been known to swipe at other people. That makes some social situations, particularly in crowds, challenging.
That's why these special outings that are geared toward special needs children so appealing, Perrault says.
There are other activities in the community. North Central College hosts an annual concert for families of children with autism or other special needs that Julianna and Victoria have attended. They also visited The Red Kite Project of the Chicago Children's Theatre, which offered an interactive, multi-sensory performance for children with autism.
And recently, Geneva-based Rising Star Theatreworks began opening its final dress rehearsal to families with special needs.
The Sensory Friendly Films get Julianna acclimated to other situations and provide a good training ground, Perrault said.
