Sensory-Friendly Screening of Finding Dory to be Held Friday

Icon Cinema at 2020 N. Bryant will be hosting a sensory-friendly screening of Finding Dory on Friday, July 1, at 9:30 a.m. Icon Cinema is partnering with Autism Alliance of the Concho Valley for this special screening.

“I wanted to be sure that some of our kids with autism could see Finding Dory because it’s a fun movie,” founder of AACV Shanna Payne said. “The theme focuses around characters with disabilities succeeding and triumphing. That’s something that we all want to see, and I think it’s important for those kids to see too.”

This event is part of AACV’s ThAUTful Theatre program, which provides entertainment for kids with autism, autism spectrum disorders, and sensory processing disorders. AACV is a program of The Arc, a national organization that advocates for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“[Payne has had] the opportunity to negotiate with theatres to be able to offer sensory-sensitive performances like she’s done with Junie B. Jones and now with Finding Dory,” Executive Director of the Arc’s local chapter Lettitia McPherson said.

The first event in the ThAUTful Theatre program was a live theatre experience of Junie B. Jones with Be Theatre in early April.

“At first, I contacted Be Theatre,” Payne said. ”They were wonderful to work with us and really excited to do it. It was a huge success. We had a bunch of kids who had never been to a play or musical at all who came and absolutely loved it. So I want to keep that going and keep those events coming throughout the year.”

Payne told San Angelo LIVE! that the ThAUTful Theatre program was inspired by a blog from a mom in Boston who convinced theatres to host similar events for her daughter who has autism.

“After I founded the Autism Alliance, I thought that we needed something similar in San Angelo because there aren’t a whole lot of events that are sensory-friendly and that are tailored to our kids with autism and sensory processing disorders,” Payne said.

According to Payne, Icon Cinemas “were real cooperative and real willing to help us” as soon as she explained her plans for the screening.

“There’s no reason that [kids with Autism] shouldn’t be able to participate in the activities that everyone else does,” Payne said. “We just need to be able to make a few accommodations.”

At this screening, the lights will be turned slightly up at the theatre’s “pre-show level.” Furthermore, the sound will be turned slightly down, there will be no previews and advertisements, and the “no talking” policy will be slightly relaxed. The doors will open at 9:00 a.m. and Finding Dory will start at 9:30 a.m. Normal admission fees will apply: $6.75 for kids and $7.25 for adults. Tickets will be available at the door only.