Rural movie theater offers 'sensory-friendly' screenings for children with disabilities

Some children with autism or other disabilities might never get to experience seeing a movie on the big screen, because they have trouble sitting still for that long, or might not be able to adjust to sitting in the dark surrounded by loud noises. But an independently owned theater in rural West Plains, Mo., has decided to do something about it, offering a sensory-friendly experience for movie goers, reports Jennifer Davidson of KSMU Radio in Springfield.
 
During sensory-friendly shows, the Glass Sword Cinema leaves the lights on, sets the sound lower than normal, and "the audience is free to express themselves however they want," Clint Corman, the theater's technical manager, told Davidson. "They can sing along. They can clap. They can dance. There’s not going to be any judgment from people.”

West Plains, with a population of 12,000, might be the only theater in Southern Missouri that offers sensory-friendly shows. Melissa Davenport, of the Burrell Autism Center in Springfield, said she was unaware of any sensory-friendly showings in the 160,000-population Springfield area, reports Davidson. One theater said they would consider it if enough parents asked for the special showings. But at the Glass Sword, "the owners didn’t take a market sample before making their decision...they just did it," reports Davidson. "In doing so, it’s kind of become 'The little theater that could.'" (Read more)