Some of my fondest memories revolve around cinema. I can vividly remember my aunt taking me to see two of my favorite films: Grease and The Sound of Music. I loved all of the Star Wars films! When I was only four, my grandmother would walk me to this little grocery store to purchase packs of Star Wars bubble gum cards. I remember seeing E.T. and thinking how cool it would be to find an alien that would share Reese's Pieces with me. Sadly, there are many children who will never experience the magic of the movies. In Knox, Laurel, and Whitley County, there are hundreds of families effected by autism, attention deficit disorder, and/or sensory processing disorder. Individuals diagnosed with these disorders are: unable to attend to activities for long periods of time, sensitive to certain lighting, sensitive to certain foods, and/or unable to process loud sounds. In 2010, I personally contacted Tri-County Cineplex about offering Sensory Friendly Films for families (like my own) who couldn't attend regular screenings. I was told that they would consider it, and I never heard from them again. Each time a new children's movie comes out, I hear and see my friends talking about how they enjoyed taking their children to see the film. Because my son is unable to be around loud sounds or sit in a seat and attend to a film, he will be four-years-old, in several weeks, and has never seen a movie in a theater. I have started this petition, in hopes that all children with autism, attention deficit disorder, and/or sensory processing disorder can partake in the same activities/experiences as their peers. It's not fair that children with these disorders are unable to do things like other kids their age...even something as simple as enjoying a family outing to the movies on a weekend afternoon.

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