Muting the movies: Special-needs children enjoy modified film experience


Growing up, 14-year-old Hemet resident Miranda Berry wasn't allowed to go to the movies.

"We were worried she'd make too much noise," said her mother, Mary Berry. "She does a lot of vocal stimming."

Miranda has autism, and vocal stimming ---- making loud and sometimes repetitive noises ---- is one of the many characteristics people with the complex developmental disorder may display.

But recently, the Berry family was finally able to take Miranda to the movies, thanks to a program that caters to families with special-needs children: Autism Movie Day, which debuted a little over a year ago at the Temeku Cinemas in Temecula.

One Saturday morning a month, a family-friendly flick, such as the recent offering "Dolphin Tale," is shown, during which the sound is lowered, lights are dimmed but not turned off, and previews are omitted.

And although the concession stand is open, parents may also bring their own food, as a common treatment for autism includes a highly specialized diet.

All this plus discounted ticket prices make the movies perfect for families with special-needs children, said Murrieta resident Laurie Rathbun, a mother of two teenage sons with autism who helped launch the program.

It's a way for families to have a good time together without being judged by others, she said.

"They can just relax and enjoy the movie together as a family and not worry about their children's behavior disturbing other people," Rathbun said. "Everybody understands what everybody else is going through."

That's how the Berry family felt when they brought Miranda to the special movie for the first time.

"We just felt like we weren't being judged," Mary Berry said. "It was very comfortable."

Kevin Casey, general manager of Temeku Cinemas in Temecula, said that when he was approached by Rathbun to host the sensory-friendly films, he thought it sounded like a "cool thing to do."

Casey is typically the one who opens the theater and gets the movies going for the group on those Saturday mornings.

"It wasn't too much out of my way," Casey said. "We like doing things for the community, and just seeing people smile, it makes it worth it."

About 25 people attend each screening, he said. Temeku Cinemas is part of the Tristone Cinema Group, which owns about a half-dozen theaters in the region.

Casey said its officials may expand the practice to its other theaters. 

Movie showings for families with special-needs children are not unique to Temecula. The nationwide AMC theaters , for example, offer "sensory-friendly films" on a monthly basis. Similar programs to the one in Temecula are offered in Riverside, Ontario and La Jolla.

They're a boon to families who just want to do normal, fun activities with their special-needs kids, said Menifee resident Brenda Zapata, whose son, Zackary, 14, has cerebral palsy and is developmentally delayed.

"He really enjoys it," said Zapata on behalf of Zackary, who doesn't talk. "He looks forward to coming. He loves to be out and about. It's nice to be able to come to an environment where ---- if he makes a noise ---- nobody is going to be upset about it."


