An initiative that has opened up the world of film to people who experience autism is to be rolled out across more cinemas in the UK due to the popularity of the project and the benefits it brings.
Dimensions, a national not-for-profit support provider for people with autism and learning disabilities, has announced that Vue Cinemas has pledged its support to the organisation’s Autism Friendly Films initiative. Vue Cinemas will launch its autism friendly screenings on the 30th June, with subsequent monthly screenings happening on the last Sunday of each month. These screenings will be available at 78 Vue Cinemas nationwide.
Vue becomes the third cinema chain to join the initative, following ODEON and Cineworld, making it the biggest scheme specifically to offer nationwide Autism Friendly Film showings, for which adjustments include eliminating adverts, lighting left on low and sound turned down.
During April, World Autism Awareness Month, Dimensions is celebrating the success of the project so far and how it has helped audience members. Since the initiative first launched with ODEON in August 2011, more than 38,000 visits have been made to Autism Friendly Film Screenings, currently offered in more than 90 ODEON cinemas and 21 Cineworld cinemas once a month.
Lisa Hopkins, executive director of practice development at Dimensions, said:
“It is brilliant to be able to lead the way with Autism Friendly Films. The project is an element of the organisation’s focus to provide more inclusive environments for people with autism. We are really pleased to be partnering with all three cinema chains to extend this important and successful project even further. The fact that the screenings have been so well received and continue to gain support from national cinema chains shows that there was a need to introduce such environments.
“People who can sometimes be excluded from the traditional cinema experience, because they may find the sensory experience too difficult to manage, are now able to watch a wider variety of films, more frequently, in an environment conducive with their needs. These opportunities are important stepping stones towards full inclusion in mainstream cinemas.”
Vue Cinemas commented:
“At Vue Cinemas we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best cinematic experience possible. We are delighted to be part of this project as the autism friendly screenings will mean those who were previously unable to attend, can now witness films on the big screen, receiving the ultimate viewing experience specifically tailored to their needs.”
Dee Davison, Senior Policy Executive from the Cinema Exhibitors’ Association, said: “We are delighted that Dimensions is working with some of the UK’s largest cinema chains to support autism friendly screenings in cinemas.
“We strongly believe that the big screen is the best place to watch a film, and everyone should be able to enjoy that experience. By running autism friendly screenings cinemas they are able to provide more comfortable environments for those who find the traditional cinema setting not suitable for them.
Dimensions has recently conducted a survey into the likes and preferences of the people who attend the autism friendly screenings. Most of the people that responded attend screenings with their family members and more than half said they were very pleased with how well staff in cinemas were trained about autism and the cinema adjustments needed to give them a positive experience.
One parent responding to the survey said: “This is such a blessing to us, we could not go to any other screenings with our two boys, one of whom has Aspergers. This is something we look forward to every month and would welcome the chance to attend more frequently in any given month.”
Thos cinema companies already involved in this project echo those thoughts.
Roger Harris, COO of ODEON & UCI Cinemas Group, commented:
“We are delighted with the success of the Autism Friendly Screenings since they began in 2011. It’s great that ODEON can offer a cinema experience to people who wouldn’t normally find it easy. Watching a film on the big screen is a wonderful experience and one that should be accessible to everyone. Working with Dimensions has raised our awareness about the needs of people with autism.”
Matt Eyre, Vice President of Operations at Cineworld, said :
“Cineworld is delighted to offer autism friendly screenings at selected cinemas and will soon be offering them across many more of our cinemas. We’ve seen a very positive take up of these performances and with the support of Dimensions will be looking to continue and broaden them.”
Details of all the different films and locations for Autism Freindly Films are announced on https://www.dimensions-uk.org/families/autism-friendly-screenings/ each month