By Brittney Matejka

Sensory screenings offer children with autism an afternoon at the movies

Nov 27, 2017 | 9:27 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – Children with autism can struggle with loud sounds and bright lights. The Medicine Hat Public Library offers a program to help allow children with autism or other sensory processing disorders to be able to enjoy an afternoon at the movie theatre.

Gillian Reimer, head of marketing services for the Medicine Hat Public Library, said it all began as a suggestion from a library user.

“We’re always looking for ideas, so anything that the community thinks there is a need for, but isn’t being met elsewhere, we’re happy to hear that and try and incorporate it into our long list of programs,” she explained.

Ula Teicher made the suggestion for the sensory screenings when she moved to Medicine Hat less than a year ago. Her son Marek is like any other eight-year-old boy. He enjoys playing on his iPad and going to the movie theatre. He also has autism.

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“Kids like (my) son who has autism or sensory processing disorder, they’re deeply affected by lighting and loud noises,” she said.

The extreme stimulation from a regular theatre movie makes it difficult for her family to spend an afternoon at the movies, but the sensory screenings at the library have changed that, explained Teicher.

“When you go into a screening like this and you see other children like your children, spinning around or laughing or playing with their iPad and it makes you feel like other people get you and you’re almost kind of like a family,” she said.

More information about the sensory screenings is available on the library’s website.