Posted on 08/18/2005 10:30:02 AM PDT by Puppage
WALLKILL, N.Y. -- The family of a disabled 7-year-old boy want an apology from a Middletown movie theater, because the manager of the theater threw out their boy for laughing too loudly while watching "March of the Penguins."
The parents of Anthony Pratti said the incident happened at the Loew's cineplex at the Galleria Mall at Crystal Run on Sunday afternoon. Their son has cerebral palsy and autism and was enjoying the movie from his wheelchair when a theater worker said he was laughing too loudly and would have to leave.
Gina Pratti said they would try to have their son laugh more quietly, but the manager wanted him to leave.
The manager said the entire family didn't have to go; just the boy in the wheelchair.
Gina Pratti said they were dumbfounded to think the manager suggested leaving their son outside while they all went back into the movie.
The manager refunded everyone's money.
Gina Pratti and her husband have spent the past three days making phone calls and sending e-mails, trying to get someone from Loews to give them an explanation. She said no one has called back.
A representative of the company told the Times Herald-Record in Middletown on Wednesday that they were looking into the situation.
LOL! With posts like that I'm going to get escorted out of work for laughing too hard!
I doubt if he's ever read it.
One customer in your place of business is worth a thousand people walking by on the street. How business people can be so stupid is beyond my understanding. Most business is repeat business. A company that POs the customer will not last long.
The ADA doesn't require that people need to put up with a loud annoying handicapped person in a public venue. If this ends up in court by way of a lawsuit, the judge will rightly toss it out.
I had a like situation this summer at our local pool. First I was told my son had to have adult supervision when at the pool which he does not need. He is 14, autistic but high functioning. Because the guard manager would not give me a reason as to why I kept asking questions. In the end I was banned but my son can continue to attend the pool - go figure!
They should go to the movie theaters I go to. People shout at the screen , and talk on the phone during movies.I find it hard to believe this autistic boy could have been as offensive as some of the people I have had to sit through movies with.
We have the RIGHT to be obnoxious./sarcasm
I was responding to a poster who noted the good behavior of a child. BTW, I do agree with what you said though.
How do these people know your son is Autistic if he is high functioning?
I'm sorry your son was treated badly.
Most people think of that stupid movie Rain Man when they think of autistic people.
Sunday matinees at a movie for children vibrate with screaming, howling, laughing, hollering and running around. Less obtrusive behavior is inappropriate.
Bad management practice putting a grinch in charge of the fun house.
I laughed my ass of at this one.
"off"
I have been at movie theaters where stoned teenagers were laughing loudly and inappropriatly. I don't recall a single time when I saw anyone being thrown out of a movie theater ever.
I almost got thrown out of "Exorcist:The beginning" for the same reason.
That was you?
Kicking the disabled kid and his family out of a movie that was brightening his life, is a far greater tragedy than being annoyed.
If this happens to me I'll come to you for complete reimbursment of my ticket price and you get the built up character. OK?
Well I gotta say if I'd paid good money to see a movie I should be able to hear it also. The rest of the theatre shouldn't have to sit thru a movie they can't hear because someone is disabled.
Well, if those patrons are so selfish as to begrudge a little 7 year old autistic boy with cerebral palsy a little enjoyment, they should be ashamed of themselves.
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