“I invite parents, caregivers and children with autism to add this matinee to their weekend schedule. A sensory-friendly movie is a great opportunity to spend quality time together in a supportive, stress-free atmosphere. I am proud to play a part in bringing this fun, unique event to local children in the Geneva area,” Leader Kolb said.

In order to make the movie experience more accessible to children with autism, a sensory- friendly environment includes dimmed theater lights and lowered sound. Children are allowed to walk around, talk, and even dance in the aisles.

“The good folks at the Ontario ARC play a critical role in helping individuals with autism in our community. I look forward to partnering with them again in the future to provide much-needed assistance to local families,” Leader Kolb said.

The Ontario ARC is a not-for-profit dedicated to assisting people with special needs and their families. The organization recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Autism Center, an important community resource. The Center features a research library and offers programs for families of autistic children.

As noted by the National Institutes of Health, autism affects the brain’s development of social and communication skills. People with autism can have difficulty with social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication. They can be overly or under sensitive to sight, hearing, touch, smell or taste. According to the organization Autism Speaks, autism affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys.