November 15, 2008

"Could you move down another seat?" one mom said to another in the row behind us. "She hits."

"Oh of course," the second mom said, moving herself and her son down two seats, "is this ok?"

Not a typical matinee but the funnest one we've ever been to. This morning a local movie theater had a "sensory friendly" viewing of Madagascar 2, where it wasn't as loud, wasn't as dark, and kids were welcome to walk about and make whatever noises they wanted to. Josh and I took all the kids - at $5 a head, it was worth a try.

Walking into the lobby, it was hard not to notice this was a special event. Kids were running and jumping and flapping and squealing - a lobby full of Morgans of all ages! Josh took Morgan to the bathroom where he found 5 other dads with 5 other sons coaxing them into stalls and walking them through the bathroom process. He said he felt like shouting "I'm home!"

We got front row seats. Or rather Josh and Timothy and I got front row seats. Morgan joined the other kids running across under the screen flapping and jumping, and Jocelyn and Jesse decided to join in. Josh and I just sat and smiled. There were kids of all ages. A girl of about 10 came up to me.

"Excuse me" she said rather loudly.

"Yes?”

"I have a new song, want to hear it?"

"Of course."

And thus I was entertained with a rendition of "we've got to move it move it" complete with dance moves. I clapped at the end and she said "excuse me" rather loudly again and I smiled because I knew just what was going to happen next.

Josh was very popular - 3 different kids came over and sat next to him momentarily, then got up and were on their way.

I actually don't think I've ever met a kid less functioning on the spectrum than Morgan, but there was a full room of them today, from young kids to young adults. Like Morgan, they seemed to really enjoy being there. Not an obvious fact, but being autistic doesn't mean being an introvert.

Once the movie started, Morgan laid down on the ground in front of the movie screen to enjoy the show. Another little boy joined him and got a little too close, but Morgan just scooted himself away and the boy didn't push it. After a bit Morgan came back and sat in a chair and actually watched the movie.

Unfortunately, Jesse decided to be a general pain in the butt and so we didn't stay for the whole movie. (On the way out the photographer there from the Courant got Morgan's name, so we're hoping he'll be famous!) But we more than got our money's worth and felt happy all the way home. What a great feeling to be somewhere where everyone flaps, where everyone squeals, where everyone jumps, where everyone understands ...

We are special, we are weird, but we are not alone.