Ellen Jones, Chief Programmer, FILMCLUB explained: “It’s about raising awareness of autism among children who don’t have it. We hope youngsters will not only watch the films but talk about them afterwards – ‘Rainman’, for example, has been criticised as simplifying the condition. A film like ‘The Lost Prince’ shows how attitudes to autism have changed through history.”
Among the thousands of UK children who are benefiting each week from FILMCLUB are many with an autistic spectrum disorder, both in mainstream and SEN schools. The accessible and inclusive nature of the scheme means every child can take part and many schools say FILMCLUB is one of the few clubs where children with special needs participate confidently alongside other children. Several teachers have cited specific examples of autistic children developing in confidence and independence as a direct result of their involvement in FILMCLUB:
Nicky Wall of Collingwood School and Media Arts College said: “It has had a tremendous impact on the children’s literacy skills – for example enabling one pupil with autism to progress from reviewing via pictures to expressing himself through the written word. FILMCLUB also helps to improve the children’s concentration skills. They are now happily watching 90 minute films whereas many of them may have previously struggled to sit through a 45 minute lesson.”
