Movie night announced for kids with special needs

May 25--Children with special developmental needs and their families are invited to attend a sensory-friendly showing of "Smurfs: The Lost Village" at 6 p.m. Friday at Cinema & Drafthouse in West Hazleton.

The event is part of Geisinger's Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute's (ADMI) Community Outreach and Family Support initiative.

Dr. Christa L. Martin, ADMI director, said the atmosphere will accommodate those with special needs.

"They won't dim the lights as much," she explained. "They will also turn the volume down so that it's not that loud booming that you would normally have."

According to information from the hospital, loud music, explosions, fast scene changes and the multiple dimensions of many films can be difficult for children with special needs, who might experience these effects as sensory overload.

Martin also said the atmosphere will be comfortable and accepting.

"If a child has to get up and walk around, or needs to talk or make noise, it is expected," Martin said.

The movie will begin on time with no previews or trailers.

Martin said a theater in Lewisburg, Union County, began hosting sensory-friendly movies a few years ago.

"We've had just an incredible response to this," she explained. "We hear so many heartwarming stories when we sit and register the attendees. They say they've never had their family to a movie before because they worry about taking a child who has had some kind of disability. They were worried about how (the child) would react, or that they wouldn't be able to sit still."

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. Thanks to support from Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, there is no charge to attend the movie. Donations will be accepted.

Those wishing to attend should register with Stephanie at 570-522-9436 or slzettlemoyer@geisinger.edu.

ADMI, the Pennsylvania Women's Open Golf Tournament and Cinema & Drafthouse are sponsoring the event.

The Pennsylvania Women's Open Golf Tournament will be held Friday and Saturday at Valley Country Club, Sugarloaf Twp. It will benefit the work of ADMI. Martin said many of the golfers plan to attend the movie.

Contact the writer: jwhalen@

standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3592

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