Disabled 7-year-old ejected from theater

[Tyranny_R_US]

Town of Wallkill – If you're a 7-year-old kid with cerebral palsy and autism, you have to take your laughs anywhere you can get them.
Just don't have too much fun at the local movie theater, or you might get thrown out.
That's what happened to young Anthony Pratti this week. To say his parents are upset about it would be an understatement.
Anthony, who uses a wheelchair, was with his parents, his sister and his grandmother at the Loews Cineplex theaters in the Galleria at Crystal Run Sunday, watching a 1:15 p.m. matinee of the G-rated film "March of the Penguins."
The family sat in the wheelchair section provided by the theater. Anthony was having a good time, said his mom, Gina Pratti.

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/08/18/laughter.htm

[sasquatch]

1. The theater manager should have his ass kicked really bad

[Warren DeMontague]

2. God, that pisses me off.

I can't even say how much that pisses me off.

[opihimoimoi]

3. Makes me think STONING as a punishment should be returned

for assholes like the manager...

[Warren DeMontague]

5. I have a relative with CP

so ignoramouses like this manager are sort of a sore spot!

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. But the worst of it isn't the manager's actions,

but the fact that the manager wouldn't have gotten involved unless some useless fucking fucks had complained.

Not to excuse the manager, but I'm sure there were just enough assholes that the manager felt it was better to offend the handicapped kid than the assholes who couldn't deal with it.

Assholes.

What kind of asshole would complain?

But then, on the other hand, the only side of the story we have is from the mother, and her idea of "he wasn't laughing that loud" might be entirely different from an average populations' idea of "disturbingly inappropriate".

[Warren DeMontague]

6. At a 1 pm matinee?

Of March of the Penguins?

C'mon. This wasn't Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert trying to catch a newly remastered print of "Casablanca" or "Citizen Kane". This was, undoubtedly, a theater full of little kids.

And kids with CP sometimes make noises or laugh in ways that are different than most kids- but normal, compassionate people wouldn't get bothered by it, much less have the family ejected.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. And that's my point - the manager would not have done anything

unless people complained.

And I think that those who complained should bear the brunt of our chagrine.

Managers don't go into theaters looking for people to toss - they wait until someone complains.

[greyl]

9. fyi, March of the Penguins isn't a non-adult movie nt

[Warren DeMontague]

10. I'm not saying it is. I'm an adult, and I want to see it.

It's a sad statement on the mentality of most adults, however, when I say that it's a pretty safe assumption that the majority of the audience in a 1pm matinee would be little kids and their parents.

I mean, disagree with me if you want, but I'd be willing to lay serious odds that I'm right.

And whatever the makeup of the audience was, they should have some fucking compassion for a kid with autism and CP.

[greyl]

12. see # 8 nt

[Skittles]

30. "normal" people are delighted to see said people having great time

that's been my experience

[greyl]

8. If the disease was "Constant Screaming",

what would you expect the management to do?

What about a crying infant or toddler? Don't you expect the parents to remove them from the theater?

[Warren DeMontague]

13. Alright, Mr. Compassion.

We have only the information in the article to go on; but I have personal experience with CP. Kids with CP don't "constantly scream", but sometimes they laugh in ways that don't sound like the laugh of a kid who doesn't have CP. Not louder, not even "more annoying", except maybe to the occasional asshole who has some kind of problem with people who are different from them.

I suspect that was the case, here, particularly because I'm sure this wasn't the only kid in the theater or the only kid making noise.

[greyl]

18. Ok, Reverend

Yes, we only have the info in this article to go on. :)

[flyarm]

11. OMG..THIS IS MY GIRLFRIENDS NEPHEW!!

this was on the news last night on ny news, my girlfriend was telling me about it this morning! this is her nephew..he is the sweetest little boy..and absolutely beautiful...and very handicapped , and the parents are wonderful..and this was horrible, as watching movies is the greatest joy this little boy has in his life!
i have to send this to my girlfriend..i didn't see it on tv news last night , but she told me all about it this morning!
this little boys parents work so hard to try to make this little guys life a joy..as joyful as possible.
he is a treasure!
fly

[greyl]

14. If a 2 month old baby is crying in a theater,

wouldn't you expect the parents to be considerate of the rest of the audience?
Would you wonder why they brought a 2 month old baby to the theater to begin with?

(Replace the baby with a 109 year old agitated schizophrenic if you like)

[Warren DeMontague]

16. So the kid with CP, who you have assumed was HORRIBLY disruptive-

shouldn't be brought out in public? Shouldn't go to the movies?

You know, any response I could come up with here would be a violation of the rules. I'm done with you in this thread.

[greyl]

20. Answer my questions first, please.

"If the disease was "Constant Screaming", what would you expect the management to do?
What about a crying infant or toddler? Don't you expect the parents to remove them from the theater?
If a 2 month old baby is crying in a theater, wouldn't you expect the parents to be considerate of the rest of the audience?
Would you wonder why they brought a 2 month old baby to the theater to begin with?

(Replace the baby with a 109 year old agitated schizophrenic if you like)

When you've done that I'll respond to "So the kid with CP, who you have assumed was HORRIBLY disruptive shouldn't be brought out in public? Shouldn't go the movies?" question.

[Warren DeMontague]

23. I told you, I'm done with you.

Why don't you educate yourself about people with CP-- who are not "2 month old babies" or "109 year old agitated schizophrenics".

Or, don't. Go ahead and gleefully and self-righteously cluck about throwing a seven year old disabled child out of a movie theater full of little kids.

I have ABSOLUTELY no interest in any further discussion with you on this.

[greyl]

29. you never started with me - never engaged with me. oh well. cya

[flyarm]

21. not a handicapped child sitting in the handicapped section of the theater

i would tell the complainer..if you dont like it come back to another show!
there are laws about stuff like this..it was handled horribly!!
and the manager should be replaced! if he/she can not handle something like this they don't belong in the job!
this was a child with real handicaps..and a wonderful family that works extremely hard to give this child whatever joy they can bring him..its a tough job..i will tell you!!

the action of the theater manager was deplorable!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

38. And the manager telling them they all could return to the theater but

not Anthony???? It sounds like the manager has a severe disability. Lack of a brain and a heart.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. CP is a tough roe to hoe.

No question. I have a relative with CP, myself. Your girlfriend sounds like a beautiful person and wonderful mom.

(Although judging by some of the responses here, apparently going to the movies and having your 1pm matinee marred by the laughter of a kid with CP is 'tough', too.)

[flyarm]

17. ohhh and this child hardly ever laughs...

and he hardly talks..so when something strikes him and gets him excited it is very rare..very rare..so his mom was happy he was enjoying the movie so much!! its a rare thing for this little sweet heart..and no the mom is not a reactionary ! quite the opposite!

[Warren DeMontague]

19. If Loews management has any decency at all

They will let the family have 1/16th of a multiplex one afternoon all by themselves to watch it- (I know how empty some of these theaters are during the day.. it wouldn't be a hardship) and make the fucking manager wait on them all, particularly the little boy, hand and foot.

Shit, if it were me, I'd make him do it while wearing a horribly uncomfortable penguin suit.

[greyl]

22. Is it because the boy isn't responsible for his behavior?

[flyarm]

25. this child does not understand behavior !

he has cp and autism! both!

[Warren DeMontague]

27. The compassion of some people knows no bounds.

But, unfortunately, some of us don't understand how frustrating it is to have your 1 pm matinee ruined by the laughter of a handicapped child.

[greyl]

32. You're missing the point of my question.

Though you answered it just fine.

I think we should call this conversaton quits and claim our respective yin and yang.

[cornermouse]

36. Possibly.

Should his parents put him in an institution and if so who will pay? Or should they just hide him at home 24/7? Where do you propose they take him where he won't inconvenience anyone? And yes, I'm being sarcastic.

The reality is that his parents probably have ongoing medical bills that you can't begin to imagine. Their financial resources are most likely severely limited. The trip to the movie theater was probably a really big treat, maybe even a reward for specially deserving behavior. But I guess some people just don't care.

[flyarm]

24. its hard enough just to get this little boy out!

he can not walk, the cp has effected his legs and hands..and he has autism as well!

[Warren DeMontague]

26. Right, but, the important thing is that the 1pm matinee of "March of the

Penguins" not be disturbed. :eyes:

[spuddonna]

34. LOL I like that idea!

"More Goobers and Milk Duds, Mr. Penguin..."

[spuddonna]

33. This is total, utter, bullshit...

I have a nephew who is autistic. If he can't go to the 1pm matinee then he can't go to the movies. Besides, those matinees are so freaking loud with kids laughing, talking, crying, AND they blast the soundtrack as if everyone was deaf!

This manager is a total ass... I'll bet none of the parents complained; I think the manager just felt like being a prick...

[greyl]

28. How does Anthony feel about it ?!?

Is Tony pissed at the management and holding a grudge?

[cornermouse]

37. Do you really want to know?

It depends on the kid. They don't lose their humanity because they're disabled.

He may have cried when they took him out. Autism; depending on the severity, they tend to react without thinking about the consequences of their actions. People around them think that they don't notice anything, but if they're verbal and you work at it long enough, you usually find out that they know exactly what happened even though they don't necessarily understand why.

[greyl]

39. Yes.

As opposed to your opinion.

[cornermouse]

41. My experience with autism.

Its not just an opinon. They can regress to much earlier behavior. Everything they've learned tends to be forgotten.

When my dad died he couldn't handle the fact that grandpa was gone, so for a while things got bizarre. Its hard to explain and even harder to deal with as a parent.

[MetaTrope]

31. Look on the bright side

If this were Florida, they would have had cops tasering the kid and taking him out in handcuffs.

[greyl]

35. Always look on the bright side of life. nt

[La Coliniere]

40. If the child was out of control in such a way that he was

SERIOUSLY interfering with the enjoyment of the movie for other patrons, then the parents had an obligation to remove the child. This would be similar to a case where an infant or toddler won't stop crying. But if the child was simply laughing louder, longer and differently, then the patrons who complained and the employee who ejected the boy need to be educated in what cp and autism are, and how both conditions impact speech and behavior; they needed to be more understanding and tolerant IMHO.

[greyl]

42. That's sensible.

We just don't know enough details to make a certain judgement.

I only wanted to make clear that it may have been reasonable to remove Anthony.