MOSAIC MOMENTS

On Sunday, I told you about Reece’s Rainbow and their opportunity through Amercian Express to receive a large grant to save the children in countries outside of North America who have Down syndrome and other disabilities and are orphans with no hope of survival if they stay in their countries.

I, of course, am not the only one talking about this! This message is being spread throughout the blogging world, websites, emails, texting, IM’s, and phone calls. But I would like to think some of my readers had a part in this great success!

Below is a message that I just received from the director of Reece’s Rainbow, Andrea Roberts….

All, your tremendous efforts to get the word out about this incredible opportunity with American Express have been SUCCESSFUL!!!

In one week’s time, the Save an Orphan with Down syndrome project, to be fulfilled by Reece’s Rainbow, has CATAPULTED from last on the list to # 18 out of almost 1200 submitted projects! 

We have a very real chance to win at least some of the award money!  

We still have 5 days to go in the initial nomination period…..we need to maintain our place in the top 20 with continued new votes.     Anyone can nominate at this point….just log in as a guest if you don’t have an Amex account of your own.    All new nominations must be in by the end of Monday, September 1.   I know many people may be traveling for the holiday, but don’t forget to vote!!!

Now is the time to remind all of those people you have already asked 3 times :)   Now is the time to remind those folks who said to themselves “oh yeah, I’ll do that”, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.    This opportunity is REAL, it isn’t an online scam or something completely out of reach.   We really can win this!!!  

Even if you’re not in the Down syndrome or adoption communities, your one little click of the mouse really can change the course of a child’s life, a PARTICULAR child’s life, whom you can watch and say “hey, I was part of that!”  

The link for the project is http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/H1LEJ0    You can also view it and click it on our home page at www.reecesrainbow.org   

Please add it to your blogs, your e-mail signatures, every Yahoo group you are a part of…..you have all already done it, but we are so close!   Please share this update with everyone you have already forwarded to!

God bless, next update will be Friday, although I’m sure you’re all checking the status every 5 minutes like I am

Artyom thanks you!!!  (and he is still waiting for his family to find him!)

Andrea Roberts, Executive Director
Reece’s Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry
www.reecesrainbow.org

This is an AMAZING report! Within THREE SHORT DAYS this organization has gone from the very bottom of the list to number 18 out of the 1200 entries!

YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE! YOU ARE SAVING A LIFE!

If you haven’t taken the short time it takes to make this tiny click to vote for Reece’s Rainbow, PLEASE do it now! It IS a matter of life and death! I know that in America we have a saying “It isn’t a matter of life and death” meaning that it isn’t that important. In this case, it IS a matter of life and death! One little click of a mouse could very well save Artyom’s life and all the lives of the children who are left in these orphanages.

If you have already made your vote…. THANK YOU!!! Please spread the word to every single person you know and even those of who you don’t know.

If you happened to miss my Sunday post, you can click here to read what it is all about.

Do you have a blog somewhere in cyberspace?

What do you blog about? Is it interesting information that helps others or is it a basic journal of your day to day life?

There are so many blogs out there and so much great information that people have to offer!

If you have an information blog that you dedicate yourself to just to get the information out to others, but do it on your own time and not get paid for it, then I have a solution for you!

My blog is written through Today.com. This site allows me to bring you information and at the same time I can make a little extra money to help with groceries, gas money, and football equipment! (Garrett just started his second season!)

Everyone around the world is feeling the crunch on high gas prices and higher grocery bills! So, every penny counts, especially when you have a family to feed, or if you are just trying to feed yourself!

Perhaps you have never written a blog, but you have been thinking about it. You know you have great information to share, but just don’t know how to start. This was me just a few months ago! I like to write, but had no experience in websites or blogging. (I have other people who do that stuff for me! lol)

The good thing about Today.comis that their web design is pretty easy to understand and if you don’t understand what you are doing, or need help with anything, they have a great forum for all their bloggers to send messages to the group of bloggers for help and suggestions. Everyone is very friendly and helpful.

I get paid once a month through a paypal account that I set up for free.

So if you have information on:

• news

• sports

• fashion

• parenting

• technology

• health

• fitness

• hobbies

• entertainment

• living

• family

• business

• web design

OR ANYTHING THAT IS INFORMATIONAL

Just click the box below and enter your information to get started in the PAID blogging world!

If you are going to blog…. you might as well get paid!

Last week  I told you about a wonderful book , blog and website called Potty Training Boot Camp.

Dr. Suzanne Riffel, author of Potty Training Boot Camp is a great mom who started out looking for the “magical” toilet training method. However, when she found that there really wasn’t a “magical” method, she combined several methods into one to find something that truly worked for her 20 month old daughter.

Last week, I was led to Dr. Riffel’s blog when she wrote an article on toilet training for a child with Down syndrome or other intellectual or developmental delays.

Last night, Suzanne wrote me concerning her book and blog to thank me for highlighting her information on my site. Then, she told me about a problem she was having concerning feedback for children with Down syndrome.

Here is what Dr. Riffel told me….

“The Potty Boot Camp has been incredibly successful to date, yet I have very little feedback from parents of children with Down Syndrome.

I would love to give free copies (limit 20) of the eBook version to parents who are willing to use it and report back. I’m curious if the program can be followed to the letter - and if not, what modifications did parents need to make? Eventually, I’d like to add a chapter to the book about training children with Down Syndrome.”

This is YOUR opportunity to help your child with potty training and help develop a method that truly works! Suzanne Riffel is one of those “go getter’s” in the world who wants to make a difference for everyone that she can help! Reading her blog and website I really can see that she did some extensive research to find the perfect potty training method.

So, this is what we are going to do…..

The first 20 people who leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your email address) will be notified on how to get this offer! Be sure that you are serious about following through with this. You will need to be able to send feedback to the author on what worked and what didn’t. This is a great opportunity to not only help your child, but also thousands of other children with developmental disabilities!

EXTRA OFFER!!!

Today on Dr. Suzanne Riffel’s site she highlights parentreviewers.com

Pocket Snails Potty Adventure Free DVD Giveaway on Parent Reviewers.com

The blog ‘Parent Reviewers.com’ is giving away the DVD ‘Pocket Snails Potty Adventure‘. Visit their site and you’ll find instructions on how to enter the giveaway:

From Parent Reviewers

Having potty trained both my children, I definitely acknowledge that it’s no easy feat. How I wished back then, I had educational DVDs like Pocket Snails Potty Adventure to help my youngins tackle the issue more smoothly.

Excerpt from Pocket Snails’ website:

Pocket Snails Potty Adventure, tackles the sometimes tricky subject of potty training from a whole new perspective! With its multi-faceted approach that uses a fun storyline, colorful animation, sing-along songs and the included Potty Steps Map that viewers can follow during the program - and then consult for themselves come potty time - this wonderful new DVD provides an engaging and effective potty training tool for youngsters everywhere.

The Pocket Snails Potty Adventure is a delightful full featured potty training program designed to encourage and motivate children to go diaperless and welcome the use of the potty. Created by Soaring Star for children of age 2 and up, this musical DVD will help parents make this trying transition period more relaxing and fun for their toddlers. Though my two children are way out of their potty training phase, they still thoroughly enjoyed the antics of Buttons, Dale and Gordon. As a mom, I like the fact that there are two characters in this potty adventure - Wendy, who is starting in her potty training adventure and Jake, another sibling who has already conquered it. But of course, our favourite as a family, were the sing along songs as well as the hilarious bloopers!

BUY IT : I’d highly recommend this DVD for parents who are about to start the potty training “adventure” with their toddlers. You can purchase this invaluable potty training tool here.

WIN IT : Thanks to Soaring Star, we are giving away not one but THREE copies of Pocket Snails Potty Adventure!!! Here’s what you need to do:

•  post
• Visit Pocket Snails and tell us which is your favourite product (besides Pocket Snails Potty Adventure)
• Giveaway is open to readers with US and Canada shipping addresses only.
• Giveaway closes on 14th September 2008 and 3 winners will be selected using the Random.Org. Results will be announced on 15th September 2008.

Thanks Suzanne for all the work you do in the toddler world of toilet training! You are a hero to many parents!

Today, August 25, is the last day to put in your entries for a chance to win the Applebee’s Gift Certificate!

The drawing is TUESDAY, AUGUST 26

Last month, I highlighted Diane and Kris’ blog “The Erin and Mary Ellen’s Excellent Adventures”

Erin has Down syndrome and Mary Ellen has mosaic Down syndrome. This site is very inspirational and quite entertaining as you read all about their “excellent adventures”.

Moms, Diane and Kris decided to thank all their blog visitors by having a drawing for those who leave a comment on their site with their email address.

Here’s how it works.

First, go to their site with the Applebees announcement.

Then, send a comment with your email address so when they choose you they can contact you to tell you that you won!

Diane and Kris say……

You can win two different ways!

1. You can win a $25.00 gift certificate to Applebee’s Restaurant.

To win this one, all you have to do is post a comment on our blog under this post telling us why you are enjoying our new pages. Don’t forget to also post your email address. If there isn’t an email address, you will not be included in the drawing. We will use this to contact you to be able to send you your gift certificate.

2. You can win $50.00 gift certificate to Applebee’s Restaurant.

On this one there is a twist, you need to send our blog to your friends. If four of your friends post on our blog under this post, that you sent them here, we will enter your name in the drawing. Each of the four need to leave their email addresses so we can confirm their post. Ask them to make sure of two things, that they tell us who sent them, and they leave their email address. If either of those conditions is not included you will not be able to be entered in this part of the drawing. They will qualify to win the $25.00 one though just for posting if they leave us a positive comment about why they enjoyed our new page.

If you heard about this contest from here, please tell them Kristy Colvin sent you!

In both instances, we will collect all of the entries, and put them in a hat and draw a name. We will be asking ME to do the drawing.

We contacted Applebee’s to ask them if they had a policy about hiring individuals with Down syndrome. You will be happy to know they assured us they would be happy to hire anyone who is qualified to do the job that they are hired to do. And that Down syndrome would not prevent them from hiring an individual if the person was qualified! We were glad to hear that they are open to this possibility! We expected to hear this, but we were glad to hear their enthusiasm when we spoke with them!

Pass this along, and we hope you have fun trying to win!

The drawing will be held on August 26. All entries must be in before this date.

GOOD LUCK

Imagine being born with Down syndrome or any other special need and because of this difference you are wisked away to an orphanage soon after birth to lay in a crib without very much physical contact at all. Your parents are home in tears for the fear of doing something wrong to cause this disability and in their society they are shunned because they have had a child who is, in their eyes, unwhole. 

The orphanage in which houses your crib is an old rundown building with leaky roofs and drafty windows. The workers, although most have begun with a compasionate heart, are overworked and underpaid, and they too live in the same society that believes your birth was a complete mistake and so you are hastely proped with a bottle each time you cry, even if you are only crying because you feel so alone and just want to be touched and hugged and smiled at and loved. 

In Central and Eastern European countries alone (this would include Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, etc, but NOT Russia), there are more than 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN who have been abandoned by their families for one reason or another and are living in “public care” (that’s the nice way to put it).  If statistically, 1 out of every 733 live births results in a child with Down syndrome, that means at any given time there are 2,046 children with Down syndrome who need families.  THAT’S JUST IN EUROPE!!  Some do not survive because of serious medical complications…some do not survive because of lack of medical attention, lack of food, lack of LOVE. 

In Russia, there are over 700,000 children waiting for families, meaning at least 955 children with Down syndrome wait, languishing.  In ASIA (China, Hong Kong, Korea, India), there are 3,572,000 orphans, with nearly 5000 children with Down syndrome who are unwanted.  Many of those children are killed at birth.    The “lucky” ones end up in orphanages and foster care situations.

In the United States alone, 137 million people claim to be Christians of some denomination.  If only 1% of the Christians in this country adopted just ONE CHILD, 1.37 MILLION CHILDREN from abroad would have loving, Christian families to grow up in.  Of those 1.37 million, 1,869 of those children have DOWN SYNDROME.

Last month, I told you about the organization Reece’s Rainbow. Reece’s Rainbow is an organization to help families adopt children in other countries who have Down syndrome. Not only are they helping these families to get the child they so much want to love in their own home, they are literally saving these children’s lives, who otherwise would live in an instititution with out ever being touched or talked to.

I can not imagine what it would be to grow up strapped to a bed and never have physical human contact. Never be told that I was loved. Never be cuddled when I didn’t feel well. And, I can’t imagine my children ever growing up that way either. Thankfully, they didn’t. However, there are thousands of children throughout the world who at this very moment are strapped to a bed and not being loved or talked to.

Reece’s Rainbow is doing their part to change that.

Adoption is expensive. Adopting a child from another country is VERY expensive. There are parents throughout the US and other countries who very much want to adopt these children, however, the expense of it is astronomical! So, Reece’s Rainbow tries to raise funds to help these families afford to get their children and in turn, save these children’s lives.

Reece’s Rainbow has many opportunities for you to help these children. Maybe you are not in the position to adopt a child. That is ok! You could sponsor one to help that child come home to their family! Maybe you don’t have any money to give. You can pray! I am a firm believer in prayer!

Today, there is a way that YOU CAN HELP and it WON’T COST YOU A PENNY!

American Express has a program that is offering money to organizations and it depends all on the amount of votes that the cause gets in this program.

1st place gets: $1,500,000

2nd place gets: $500,000

3rd place gets: $300,000

4th place gets: $100,000

Imagine what that kind of money could do in the lives of these children! It cost $20k+ for a family to adopt a child overseas. One of Reece’s Rainbow’s goals is to give full scholarships to these families so they can save these children and give them the life they deserve.

The other goal of Reece’s Rainbow is to educate these countries on these special needs.

Andrea Roberts, Director of Reece’s Rainbow says, “The more children with Down syndrome and other special needs who are adopted by American families, the more these foreign countries will begin to see them with a greater value and potential. Birth families will have the courage to raise their own children with Down syndrome, know they are not alone, and advocate for their rights in their own societies. The goal for this ministry is to eliminate the NEED for this ministry.”

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Just go to the American Express site here and nominate Reece’s Rainbow to receive this gift from American Express. You do NOT have to have an American Express card to do this. Just register as a guest and nominate.

Then, after you make your vote, please leave a comment on that page. Even if Reece’s Rainbow makes it to the top 25 organizations, the American Express Advisory Board makes all the final decisions. So, it is important that you tell them why you think Reece’s Rainbow deserves this money.

The voting only lasts until September 1st, so please vote today! And pass the news along through all your internet connections!

Finally, after countless late night hours, IMDSA has its conference page ready! Yea!!!

In order to understand my great relief of this, you have to first understand why there were so many countless late-night hours!

I live in the United States–Texas to be exact. Our wonderful secretary/webmaster, Lisa, lives in Australia. (in the future-because she is a day ahead of the US at most hours) So, most of the time, when I am asleep, Lisa is awake, and visa versa. So, if we have anything that needs to be done together that we must talk about as we are doing it (instead of just emailing) one of us stays up all night long to get it done. When doing a complete site dedicated to our conference information, this tends to take a long time of late nights!

So, through my blurry eyes, I am happy to tell you all that we have completed the site and everything is ready to go!

Our conference theme this year is Building Bridges for Down Syndrome. This theme has many meanings to us! First, we are “building bridges” between the Down syndrome and mosaic Down syndrome community to help others understand the similarities between the two. Many think this is a “mosaic Down syndrome” conference, but it isn’t! It is a conference for ALL FORMS of Down syndrome. We are planning on speakers throughout the country to present topics relating to all issues concerning any form of Down syndrome, so if your child is a newborn or an adult or somewhere in between, we will have the topics for you! The other reason for our theme this year is that we are “building bridges” for everyone in the community to better understand what Down syndrome really is! We hope to “bridge the gap” between all these communities so we can stand together and accept every person in our community.

We are planning on approximately 24 speakers in our main conference. (this depends on each speaker and how much time they need)

Then, we also have a conference for youth ages 13-adult. They will be divided into 2 rooms according to age and will have a variety of speakers present workshops to fit their needs and entertain them at the same time. SIBLINGS ARE WELCOME!

Also, we have our Kid Konference! Children ages 2-12 will be divided into 3 rooms according to their age and will have a load of fun and learn new things throughout the weekend. SIBLINGS ARE WELCOME!

One of the unique aspects of our conference is the research we do during the weekend. We have invited a variety of researchers and on Friday families are welcome to participate in this research if they choose. (appointments will be needed for this event)

The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati is hosting our 2009 conference. We are very pleased to be working with this fantastic organization and hope that together we can bring everyone a fantastic conference weekend!

Not only will we learn alot throughout the weekend, we will have loads of fun! The hotel we have reserved is the Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel and Coco Keys Indoor Water Resort! What this means is–there is a 50,000 sq ft indoor water park INSIDE THE HOTEL! So, not only will this be a great place for our conference, it is also a great place for a vacation!

To learn all about the conference and what is planned for the weekend, just visit our website HERE. Be sure to register early for the early bird discount and reserve your hotel room soon as they will run out quick!

And, please, let me know if you have any trouble with our site or if you have any questions. We have added many pages of information into the site, be sure to see the CONFERENCE OVERVIEW this will explain all the aspects of the conference and shows just another “late-night” of my work!

I sincerely hope to see everyone in Cincinnati on July 10-12, 2009! We are planning for a fantastic weekend!

As films such as “Tropic Thunder” continue to pop-up in Hollywood, with the nature to demean and harm and continue to insult us with the demeaning use of the “R-Word”, I wanted to remind you of a film, “Mr. Blue Sky“,  which is an inspirational film that not only raises Down syndrome awareness, but provides VALUE, HOPE, FAITH, ACCEPTANCE, TOLERANCE, INCLUSION, INTEGRITY AND OPPORTUNITY for all children born with Down syndrome and other developmental challenges.

I came across a blog from the Author of Potty Training Bootcamp. Dr. Suzanne Riffel says “I’m a Mom who spent hours researching the Internet and various books looking for some “magical” potty trainingmethod. Much to my disappointment, there isn’t one!! After spending a lot of money on texts and down-loadable guides, I decided to combine a few different methods of training as taught by the “experts”…..and it worked on my 20 month old daughter! More times than I can count I’ve been asked by friends and other moms about just how I trained my daughter at such a young age….so I decided to write it all down in a concise and step-by-step manner. The result is what I now call “The Potty Training Boot Camp!”"

Unless you live in Hong Kong, or one of those countries where potty training begins at birth, this is an issue for all parents everywhere. In reading Dr. Riffel’s blog, she has an article she has linked to to help those with Down syndrome in their potty training journey.

In this article toilet training for those with Down syndrome is outlined and there are some good tips.

Teaching a child to use the toilet can be frustrating in any circumstance. Teaching a child with intellectual and developmental delays can make the experience most unpleasant. There has been protocol set forth for teaching Down syndrome children to use the toilet but it has also been suggested that it is helpful for the child to witness a same gender parent or sibling using the toilet in order to see it take place.

The major factor in successful toilet training is the use of a schedule. It is important to watch the child’s voiding habits for 2 or 3 days to get an idea of how many times a day he or she urinates and defecates. Most children will eliminate solids at the same time each day so it is important to document this time as well. Once the child’s habits are documented, the parent needs to average approximately how often the child uses the bathroom so a training schedule can be put together. It is important to take the child to the bathroom twice as often as the child’s average voiding. For example if the child goes once an hour then he should be taken to the bathroom every 30 minutes. It is also important to match up the toileting schedule with the approximate times the child will defecate to make sure he is at the toilet for those times.

It has been suggested that since many children with Down syndrome have difficulties with communication, they should be taught a physical sign for time to go to the potty in addition to the verbal cues. This can be used easily during times when the child needs to be quiet but needs to express the need to go to the bathroom.

It is important to make using the toilet a fun experience. There should be praises and small treats for successful trips to the toilet. The child should never be forced to sit on the toilet and should not be allowed to sit on the toilet longer than 5 to 7 minutes. Normally voiding will take place within that period. It can be helpful to give the child something to drink 15 to 20 minutes before the scheduled voiding time. This can assist with the child’s need to go. The parent needs to check the status of the child’s underpants several times during the day. It is helpful to get the child involved in this process so he or she can feel the wetness or the dryness. It brings the sense of touch into the process, which can be helpful for the child with Down syndrome. When the child does have an accident, it is important to have the child participate in cleaning up the mess. This includes changing clothes, washing up the body and cleaning up the floor if there is a mess there.

Finally, consistence is the key when toilet training a child with Down syndrome. Once cloth underpants are introduced and diapers are taken away, it is important to never go back to diapers. This tells the child that toilet training is optional and that he or she can choose to stay in diapers. Once this decision is made, it makes going back to training extremely difficult.

As a parent of five sons, I have had my share of the toilet training days. For me, toilet training with Tim was no different than any of my other children. However, I realize after speaking with so many families that this endeavor is not always the piece of cake that it was for me. 

There were 3 things that I found to be the most helpful:

1. Put the child backwards on the seat. This enabled them to not be afraid of falling in, gave them independence of being able to climb on the toilet on their own, and because mine are all boys—helped greatly with ”the aim factor”

2. Consistency. Once you begin toilet training their is no going back. You MUST take away diapers at least during the day (night time is a totally different story) If you allow your child to continue to wear diapers, then they are confused. Because they are wearing the same thing that a week ago was acceptable to use, and now you are telling them that it isn’t. This includes when you are going on outings. Make frequent bathroom stops and bring an extra set of clothing just in case.

3. Rewards. Some call it bribery and maybe it is, but I think of it more of an incentive. When training my children, I kept a bowl of small candies in the bathroom. (make sure it isn’t something they can choke on. Hard Candy is NEVER an option for young children) My children loved M&M’s so every time they would use the toilet they were allowed one piece of candy. They soon understood that this was a reward that they had control of. And, they soon understood, after a few teary moments, that just sitting on the toilet did not get them the reward. They had to actually USE the toilet in order to get their incentive.

I encourage everyone to visit the Potty Training Boot Camp blog and check out the book Potty Training Boot Camp

Yesterday I got a comment from Lily’s mom, Suzie about the blogs she has. I thought, “Oh Great! Some new people to learn about and share their story!” I absolutely LOVE reading other people’s stories. I know that everyone has something in their lives that makes for a very interesting story, but sometimes they just don’t realize it! But I feel as though EVERYONE has a Story and so I love to get glimpses into those lives to find out what their story is.

Lily is no exception! At 9 years old, Lily has done more in her life than I have in my ….well…. in the many years I have been alive!

Lily’s blog is titled “Lily’s Life is Great!” and without a doubt, it truly is! And, Lily herself is GREAT!

With some help from her mom, Lily writes this blog from her own perspective. In Lily’s bio she says, “I am 9 now and have Down syndrome. To be more exact I have Robertsonian translocation between chromosomes 21 and 21. I just got a small part in a movie called “The Jerk Theory”. This blog is for family and friends to keep updated on how I am doing in the movie business and also in my life!”

So, when I read that I said, “What? You are in the movie business?” How amazing!

Then, I started reading all about Lily and her part in this movie called “The Jerk Theory” and I have to tell you, this sounds like a GREAT movie!

Lily plays the little sister of “Adam” in the film. There is so much to say about Lily, her blog and all about her movie that I could be here all night writing! So, please visit Lily’s Blog and see for yourself why “Lily’s Life is Great!”

Amy Allison of the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City passed this information on this morning and I thought it was a wonderful, positive thing that the AMC theaters are doing!

AMC Theatres has partnered with the Autism Society of America to offer movies for those who have sensory issues. Although this
was brokered in partnership with the ASA,many people with Down syndrome can also benefit from these inlcusive opportunities to head to the movie theater!

Autism Society of Americaand AMC Entertainment Host Sensory Friendly Films

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You!

AMC Entertainment (AMC)and ASA have teamed up to begin testing a pilot program to bring families affected by autism a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis. “Sensory Friendly Films” are premiering across the country this month with a special showing of the new animated film Star Wars: Clone Wars.

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that affects a
person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It often
comes with sensory challenges, such as hypersensitivity to light or
sound, and children or adults affected by autism may not understand the social boundaries of movie theatre etiquette, such as not talking during the film or sitting still through most of the show.

In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down. Additionally, AMC’s “Silence is Golden” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

Sensory Friendly Films will pilot in 10 markets this month. Tickets prices vary by location and can be purchased on the day of the event. Each event will begin at 10 a.m. local time on August 23 in the following locations:

AMC Barton Creek 14
2901 Capital of Texas Highway
Austin, TX 78746

AMC Columbia Mall 14
10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy.
Columbia, MD 21044
(Baltimore area)

AMC Ridge Park Square 8
4788 Ridge Rd.
Brooklyn, OH 44144-3327
(Cleveland area)

AMC Dutch Square 14
421 Bush River Road, Unit 80
Columbia, SC 29210

AMC Castleton Square 14
6020 E. 82nd St.
Indianapolis, IN 46250

AMC Studio 30
12075 S. Strangline Road
Olathe, KS 66062
(Kansas City area)

AMC Lynnhaven 18
1001 Lynnhaven Mall Loop
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(Norfolk area)

AMC Deer Valley 30
3033 West Agua Fria Freeway
Phoenix, AZ 85027

AMC Mesa Grand 24
1645 South Stapley Dr.
Mesa, AZ 85204
(Phoenix area)

AMC Mission Valley 20
1640 Camino Del Rio North
San Diego, CA 92108

AMC Hoffman Center 22
206 Swamp Fox Road
Alexandria, VA 22314
(Washington, D.C. area)

Kudos to AMC for seeing the needs of those with sensory problems. This will benefit more than just the Autism community, because many with Down syndrome and other conditions have sensory problems and this will give them all an outlet to still come and enjoy the movie!