Mom says she and 'giggling' son with special needs were asked to leave movie theater for 'disruptive behavior'

[ocnjgirl]

Originally Posted by Sundaydrive00

The screen would have been in front of him, not up on the ceiling.

If the child's mobility issues prevent him from being able to watch a movie unless seated in a specific seat, it sounds like the movie would be more enjoyable for the kid in the comfort of his own home.

A lot of people have trouble seeing from the first row. You have to crane your neck. He could see perfectly fine anywhere else in the theater.

[ocnjgirl]

Originally Posted by ClaraC

What do you think about the fact that apparently, she did nothing at all to quiet him, even though apparently quieting him would have worked?

(I am inferring this from the fact that she was very upset at not having been warned she was about to be asked to leave,
as if she would have quieted him, had she just any idea at all that customers were becoming very annoyed).

I'm picturing, not without empathy, a mother of a child with a serious disability just enjoying to the full hilt that her 3 year old was getting such pleasure from the movie. And we all get that.

Who else is in that crowded theater? Grandma, with dementia, who very much wanted to see this movie with the family but can't comprehend the sounds of the movie over a baby crying loudly the whole time? A mother, going through a terrible divorce, who just wants some sweet time with her children to take their minds off the pain they're in?

In a crowded theater, with a Disney movie, there are other stories that will be in the audience. It isn't as if this one child is disabled, everyone else in the crowded theater's life is a cake walk.

What on earth do you mean quiet him? Tell a child they aren’t allowed to giggle at the funny scenes? He wasn’t yelling, he was laughing at appropriate scenes like any kid. It wasn’t the whole time, and he wasn’t crying.

[ClaraC]

Originally Posted by ocnjgirl

What on earth do you mean quiet him? Tell a child they aren’t allowed to giggle at the funny scenes? He wasn’t yelling, he was laughing at appropriate scenes like any kid. It wasn’t the whole time, and he wasn’t crying.

His mother said, he sounds like a baby crying.

I'm not sure what your history is, ocnj, but I think you're maybe not looking at this as clearly as most are.

This isn't a child who made a few yelps out when the others were also laughing or giggling.

And anyone who thinks that moviegoers would report a child in a wheelchair who was very minimally disruptive with an unusual giggling sound when others were giggling in the usual way, I think you're jaded and can't see this story.

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by ClaraC

His mother said, he sounds like a baby crying.

I'm not sure what your history is, ocnj, but I think you're maybe not looking at this as clearly as most are.

This isn't a child who made a few yelps out when the others were also laughing or giggling.

And anyone who thinks that moviegoers would report a child in a wheelchair who was very minimally disruptive with an unusual giggling sound when others were giggling in the usual way, I think you're jaded and can't see this story.

Exactly.

MUCH more to this story than what the mom is saying.

[ocnjgirl]

Originally Posted by ClaraC

What do you think about the fact that apparently, she did nothing at all to quiet him, even though apparently quieting him would have worked?

(I am inferring this from the fact that she was very upset at not having been warned she was about to be asked to leave,
as if she would have quieted him, had she just any idea at all that customers were becoming very annoyed).

I'm picturing, not without empathy, a mother of a child with a serious disability just enjoying to the full hilt that her 3 year old was getting such pleasure from the movie. And we all get that.

Who else is in that crowded theater? Grandma, with dementia, who very much wanted to see this movie with the family but can't comprehend the sounds of the movie over a baby crying loudly the whole time? A mother, going through a terrible divorce, who just wants some sweet time with her children to take their minds off the pain they're in?

In a crowded theater, with a Disney movie, there are other stories that will be in the audience. It isn't as if this one child is disabled, everyone else in the crowded theater's life is a cake walk.

Originally Posted by ClaraC

His mother said, he sounds like a baby crying.

I'm not sure what your history is, ocnj, but I think you're maybe not looking at this as clearly as most are.

This isn't a child who made a few yelps out when the others were also laughing or giggling.

And anyone who thinks that moviegoers would report a child in a wheelchair who was very minimally disruptive with an unusual giggling sound when others were giggling in the usual way, I think you're jaded and can't see this story.

She said his laugh sounds like a crying baby. Not his fault, not something he should be segregated from society for. And again she has done outings with him before with no one complaining. I don’t have personal history but I’m an OT and work with people with disabilities.

[ClaraC]

Originally Posted by ocnjgirl

She said his laugh sounds like a crying baby. Not his fault, not something he should be segregated from society for. And again she has done outings with him before with no one complaining. I don’t have personal history but I’m an OT and work with people with disabilities.

I've got a bit of a personal history, and am very much for inclusion.

I've taken adults with cognitive impairment out on recreational outings in groups; and often they do something kind of inappropriate or yelp out. Once people look and see who's doing that, they are very solicitous, or at the very least, they get out of the way and go on about their business.

In the very rare case where someone is rude or cutting, strangers will come to your side and chastise the person who is rejecting or being difficult.

I have two friends with children in wheelchairs, and I can tell you how very empathetic the public is.

If it were true, that this child was giggling in an odd and loud way but at appropriate times, and was mostly silent, others in the theater would have come to her quick defense if she were asked to leave.

But no one did. No one.

[wasel]

Hmmm. I don’t think anyone is suggesting this child be “segregated from society.” Let’s not exaggerate. There was a time when kids with special needs WERE segregated from society and this is not that (thank goodness).

Also, I don’t see the alternative solution being presented in the lobby as an afterthought. It was probably discussed in the lobby to not disrupt the theater by having a conversation about options on the middle of the movie.

[ocnjgirl]

Originally Posted by wasel

Hmmm. I don’t think anyone is suggesting this child be “segregated from society.” Let’s not exaggerate. There was a time when kids with special needs WERE segregated from society and this is not that (thank goodness).

Also, I don’t see the alternative solution being presented in the lobby as an afterthought. It was probably discussed in the lobby to not disrupt the theater by having a conversation about options on the middle of the movie.

Many people are suggesting a private screening room or stayinhome. That’s being segregated. Mom said manager realized she shouldn’t have kicked them out in lobby and then offered alternatives. When I see a reason that’s based on fact to not believe her, I will.

[hertfordshire]

Originally Posted by ocnjgirl

When I see a reason that’s based on fact to not believe her, I will.

NONE of this is based on fact. We've only got one side of the story, which is almost always skewed.

[wasel]

Originally Posted by ocnjgirl

Many people are suggesting a private screening room or stayinhome. That’s being segregated. Mom said manager realized she shouldn’t have kicked them out in lobby and then offered alternatives. When I see a reason that’s based on fact to not believe her, I will.

Okey dokey!