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A five-year-old autistic boy who was excited to see Dumbo was distraught at leaving the cinema after his mother claimed she ‘felt pressured to leave.’

Vicky Page, 36, took Noah and his two siblings, aged nine and ten, to the Faversham’s Royal Cinema in Kent to watch the new Dumbo film last Saturday.

But she felt she had to leave after just half-an-hour ‘because a woman in the audience mistook Noah’s excitement for bad behaviour.’

Ms Page said the stranger demanded she kept Noah at home, shares Daily Mail.

The mum said: ‘Noah wasn’t being naughty, he just got extremely excited. He finds it quite hard to stand still when he gets excited.

‘He couldn’t believe Dumbo could fly but instead of saying things quietly, he shouts things out pretty loud, and he just said “elephant fly superhero” and then started really jumping.

dumbo movie

‘A woman and her son kept turning and giving us quite filthy looks. I ended up apologising and I said “I’m really sorry, he has autism.”

‘But the woman said “I don’t particularly care” and that I should keep him at home if he can’t sit still.

‘It made me see red and I think in the end Noah saw me tensing up and I had to leave with my children.

‘We went through to the foyer, where he ended up having a full blown meltdown and started headbutting the floor.

‘It was very upsetting and I ended up getting quite emotional.’

Ms Page added the trip to the cinema was a treat for all three children and the family worked hard to prepare Noah for the special outing.

‘If this woman hadn’t have made a fuss or just moved seats, this wouldn’t have happened because Noah was happy – he was jumping around and trying to tell the story.

‘He hasn’t had a meltdown like that in a long time; it was heartbreaking.’

Thankfully in Australia we do have the special screening times for children who need.

Why have we become so intolerant of children these days? It is so frustrating to constantly see mums (and dads) being judged.

What would you have done if faced with a similar situation?

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  • I work with special needs children so I have learnt to be tolerant of their quirks and delight in them.
    I understand that the complaining Mum felt that her day was being ruined by the Autistic child but sadly the way she reacted was only teaching her child that we dont need to be understanding of others and as long as everything is ok for us then thats all that matters and to hell with anyone thats different.

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  • That’s so sad that she spoilt your family time. The complaining mum could easily have moved so it wasn’t affecting her so much.

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  • It is disappointing that it had to come to this, very unfair.

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  • While I’m very tolerant, I had one experience a long time ago of a child yelling and jumping and happy, but also repeatedly kicking the back of our chairs. We moved seats because it was really hurting hubby’s back. It made me determined to take my children to sessions when they were calm or to a special sensory screening so we didn’t worry other patrons. However, Dumbo is a kids movie, I would have expected some noise /disruption.

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  • We all need to be tolerant and it goes both ways. It’s hard when we all weren’t there, I mean there are disruptions from kids and then there are major disruptions. I think if it was just laughing, hand clapping and the occasional shouting out – most parents should be able to be flexible and understanding. If any child, not just one on the spectrum, is creating a major disruption then I think that’s a different thing altogether.

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  • Disgusted is this other woman’s behaviour!
    Why are people so bitchy and heartless. I wish I was there to defend her.
    With that attitude, she needs to watch what she says or she’ll teach her child terrible inoperative behaviour towards others and get karma back from someone not so polite

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  • Wow. I am a Mum of a child on the spectrum and I absolutely feel for this family. I abhor the other woman’s reaction. What about a little empathy and care. It could have been handled so differently.

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  • This is a difficult one as other patrons have paid good money to see the movie too and if he was jumping and making a lot of noise I think most people would feel annoyed. I wouldn’t have said anything if it was me but I’d be seething. I do feel for the family though and the cinema should offer special needs sessions.

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  • First of all, Zi would have phoned the cinema and ask if there was a quiet room where my family could sit for the duration of the movie, then none of this would have happened. Your son would have seen the entire movie and been able to jump around and be as vocal as he liked. While I find that people may seem intolerant of children when they pay to see a movie, they should be able to do so without interruption such as your son’s excited vocalising. I have worked with many children and adults on the spectrum. I think other people need to be considered. You, the mother and knowing your child’s display of excitement that would undoubtably irritate other customers, by disturbing their cinema experience, the intolerant person in this instance is you.

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  • Everyone handles conflict differently depending on the situation at the time. I can understand why you felt you needed to walk out and you should never have been made to feel that way. So as the story asked how
    Other people would react..im just sharing what id do…im the kind of person that would purposely irritate her even more. I would have joined my child in making loud excited comments, id be clapping my hands and laughing as loud as i could. I wouldnt give such a sour person the benefit of letting them dampen my childs enjoyment. But thats just what i would do. Im not judging in any way. Us mums should support not judge. Oh and my pre teen daughter has aspbergers and adhd.

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  • That just goes to show the inconsiderate and intolerant attitude of some people today. This other mother’s bad attitude spoilt a special moment for a happy and excited young fellow. There are some really horrible people sharing this world of ours with us, unfortunately. I hope your young lad can gain the opportunity to get another chance to see the movie again, without any more ‘grumpy’ parents in the audience.

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  • Oh the poor little thing….have tears reading this. Some people have NO IDEA …????

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  • Oh the poor little thing….have tears reading this. Some people have NO IDEA …????

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  • That poor mother i would probably would of just stayed and that mother could of moved on
    I am learning the hard way don’t let people intimidate you or walk over you speak up i don’t have a special needs child but for the first time the other week i spoke up and told the person now i felt after doing the wrong thing by me it didn’t get anywhere but at least they know they can’t walk over me and take me for granted

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  • I think parents should imagine shoe on other foot. If that was her? Those who judge aren’t in charge. They’re just full of themselves and we all have to give and take in society. Excitement at a movie is not a crime. Maybe they the judgey judges should wait for the DVD to come out.

    Reply

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