BY JONNA LEVAN AND SHARYN KOPF
For Blake Green, going to the movies can be difficult. Living on the autism spectrum, Blake is sound sensitive, making loud noises triggering for him. But he enjoys movies, so Blake has found ways to cope.
“He gets a large popcorn,” Blake’s mom, Jonna LeVan, said. “The crunching can help drown out the sounds and balance the sensory bombardment. That helps him cope through the situation.”
LeVan explained how the internal crunching sound stimulates a calming nerve that stimulates a calming nerve that lets Blake process noises. But there are ways for movie theaters and other venues to provide a sensory-friendly atmosphere for people like Blake.
With that in mind, Bellefontaine 8 Cinema and the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities are presenting a special showing of several movies at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. They’re letting the first 150 people in free and will hand out a limited number of sensory goody bags.
Movies to choose from are Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, The Wild Robot, Transformers One and Venom: The Last Dance.
But it doesn’t have to stop at the movie theatre. LeVan said she’s even heard of arcades that take sensory triggers into consideration, turning down the lights and the volume on certain nights for those who can benefit.
“I would like to see more sensory-friendly stuff like that in the community,” LeVan admitted.
According to LeVan, our brain’s sensory processor filters the information from the world around us and helps us to functionally respond. But for brains that under-filter (or even over-filter) the world around them, it’s a lot harder to function in a typical way. Individuals can feel overwhelmed in public or even experience pain due to their environments.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) can affect taste, touch, smell, sight and sound. Common sensitivities include: food aversions or textural issues; clothing irritations; smell-triggered nausea or headaches; sound intensity; and glare due to brightness of lighting
In addition to the five senses, many individuals with SPD can also face other intense sensory processing disruptions such as with motor control, body awareness or speech.
Those who experience a sensory bombardment may find themselves feeling anxious, uncomfortable or agitated. When their brain becomes overstimulated, they may even appear to go into a fight or flight mode known as a “sensory meltdown.”
The physical and emotional demands of attempting to participate in a simple outing in the community can weigh heavily on our friends with SPD. Accommodating people with these special needs is a beautiful way to embrace and accept those who do not experience the world as others do.
Perhaps SPD does not affect you personally. Yet, with the holidays fast approaching, you may celebrate with guests who experience some type of sensory-processing challenges. Here are a few simple ways to make your event more sensory-friendly:
• Eliminate flashing lights; dim surrounding lighting
• Reduce background noises
• Provide quiet spaces for breaks, as needed. For example, during his sister’s wedding last year, Blake was able to escape the noise of the music and dancing when he needed to in a quiet guest house close by.
• Provide earplugs, sunglasses and fidget tools
• Encourage guests to dress comfortably
• Eliminate clutter for ease of movement
• Invite guests to bring their favorite dish
Offering sensory-friendly options for events at home or in our community is a wonderful way to include others. By sharing a little awareness, places like our churches, businesses and even large venues can provide inclusion and more comfortable spaces for those who may not have been able to enjoy them before.
To learn more, check out the work Kulture City is doing to make the world more adaptable. They offer official Sensory Inclusive Certifications to help businesses become more accessible. For more information, go to kulturecity.org.