• Hats Off To Columbus Area Support Group and Bartholomew Community School Corporation: Partnership
• Hats Off To Hamilton-Boone-Madison Special Services Cooperative: Movie Day
• Hats Off To South LaPorte County Special Education Cooperative and Autism Society of Central Indiana: Start a Walk in Your Community
• Hats Off To M.S.D. of Wayne Township: Creating Building Level Autism Teams
• Hats Off To Johnson County Special Services
• Hats Off To Switzerland County Middle School Autism Team
• Hats Off To MSD of Lawrence Township: Training via District Website
• Hats Off To MSD of Warren Township: S.A.F.E. Supporting Autism for Everyone
• Hats Off To MSD of Martinsville: Camp Discovery: A Place for Kids to Have Fun!
• Hats Off To An Autism Team Working in Indiana: First Responder Training
• Autism Teams: Building Capacity Across Indiana
• Hats Off to Noblesville Schools for Creating Training Classrooms: Using Evidence-Based Practices of Visual Supports and Work Systems
• Hats Off To Asperger Autism Group of Goshen
• Hats Off to East Centeral Indiana Autism Society of America Chapter: Interlock
• Hats Off To Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Autism Team

Hats Off To Hamilton-Boone-Madison Special Services Cooperative: Movie Day

How would your autism team like to have an absolutely awesome experience with the families in your community? The Autism Resource Team (ART) of Hamilton-Boone-Madison (HBM) Special Services Cooperative decided they wanted to do a community service project. They have many families who have never been able to take their sons or daughters on the autism spectrum to the movies or been able to sit through an entire movie due to their children’s inability to deal with crowds, noises, or darkness. With this in mind, the Autism Resource Team decided to arrange a special day for families and children.

Many theatres were called asking if they were interested in having a movie day for individuals with disabilities. The manager, Mike Sandy, from Kerasotes Show Place 12 at the Glendale Mall at 6101 Keystone Avenue, Suite 1099, Indianapolis, INvolunteered to make this day happen. Mike made it possible for families to not see just one but two movies: Flushed Away and Santa Claus 3. The movies were shown at a time when the public was not invited (9:00 AM). Each person was charged $4.00 which the movie theatre collected at the door. The movie day was planned and the Autism Resource Team was hoping to get 100 families to attend.

The HBM Autism Resource Team did some planning before movie day. Every team member wore black polo shirts with their cooperative’s logo and their team’s title (HBM: Autism Resource Team) so that families could easily identify them. Staff were at the entrance to greet families and were positioned in the lobby, by the bathrooms and in both theatres ready to help families in any way needed. Occupational therapists brought bean bags, body pillows, and other sensory toys to the theater. The lobby became a sensory center for parents to borrow material needed to help calm their child. In addition, tips from “The Child with Autism Goes to Town” guide (Labosh, 2004) and social stories created by the HBM Autism Team (available at end of article) were given to parents.

It was decided some accommodations would be necessary for persons with autism to enjoy the movies. First, it was not completely dark in the theatre; lights were on half way. There were no previews of other movies and only one trailer was shown for Kerasotes Show Place Theatres. When the movies first came on, the volume was at zero (no sound). Slowly the volume was adjusted up. The parents all gave a thumbs up cue to show when the volume was loud enough (about half). The concessions were open, but parents were also allowed to bring other snacks from home. Mike also thought to turn off the arcade games until after the movies were shown.

People of all ages came to movie day, including some from group homes in the area. Members of the Autism Resource Team shared many stories about this wonderful experience. One person on the autism spectrum needed to dance in the front of the screen while she watched the movie. Another person needed to walk in and out of the theatre often. Everyone was accommodated in order for this experience to be positive for the individuals on the autism spectrum and their family members who brought them. One of the stories involved a boy and his dad who as they walked into the theatre the boy became anxious by the size of the crowd in the stadium seating and turned to leave. One of the HBM Autism Resource Team members guided him to sit on a pillow on the floor in the spot he was standing until he was comfortable. His dad was guided to sit in an aisle seat in the theater. Every few minutes the boy would stand to look at the crowds. Every time the boy stood, the Autism Resource Team member would move the pillow a foot or so forward; slowly inching it closer to where his father was sitting each time he stood to look. After several times, the boy was eventually sitting on the pillow on the floor next to his father. His father reached over and put his arm around his son and they watched the rest of the movie together for the first time.

Many wonderful stories like this one were shared between all of the Autism Resource Team members. It is not clear whether the ART members or the 320 people who attended were more touched by the successes of the day. However, what was shared by all was the belief that this “was the best movie ever.”

If you want to have a movie day in your community, contact Kristie Lofland (Kristie_lofland@mail.nobl.k12.in.us) or Erin Diefendorf (erin_diefendorf@mail.nobl.k12.in.us) at the Tri County Education Center in Noblesville, IN. Phone (317) 773-5321 for more information.

Reference

Labosh, K., (2004). The child with autism goes to town: The go anywhere guide, 250 tips for community outings. East Petersburg, PA: Labosh Publishing. (http://www.laboshpublishing.com/tipbook.html)

Social Story

Let’s get in the car. We are going to go to the movies. Lots of people go to the movies. We will wait in line for our tickets. We will wait in line for our snacks. We will walk into the movie room to find our seats.

The room will be dark but that is ok J because we have to see the movie. We will sit with our friends and family. When the movie starts, we will try to stay in our seats. We will try to be quiet during the movie. When the movie is over, we will go home. Going to the movies is fun.

Written by the Hamilton-Boone-Madison Special Services Cooperative Autism Team, 2006.

Dubie, M. (2007). Hats off to . . . Hamilton-Boone-Madison Special Services Cooperative: (Movie day). The Reporter, 12(1) 17, 18.