Illinois Mom, Son With Special Needs Asked To Leave Movie Theater

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — A Lake in the Hills woman said she's never been more angry than after she was asked to leave a local movie theater due to a noise complaint involving her younger son, who is disabled. Jennifer Daly shared her family's story on her Facebook page Saturday morning after she said she took her two sons to AMC Theater in Lake in the Hills Friday night to see Disney's new "Dumbo" film.

Daly's 3-year-old son Jonathan has a rare form of dwarfism and needs to be taken around in a wheelchair with other medical equipment. Daly said her son "yelled out in his giggle" a couple of times because he was loving the movie. But 10 minutes later, Daly said a woman who she believes was a manager approached her family and mentioned a noise complaint of a baby crying.

"I was told I immediately had to pack up to leave," Daly shared on Facebook. "I was mortified never in my life have I ever been kicked out of anything especially if I had done nothing wrong. I was at the top back of the theater to try to stay out of anyone’s way so that is a major haul to get to. I was not moving fast enough because she wanted to expedite me because I had to stand up and pack Jonathan up and get all his equipment."

Daly said when she, her son Kristopher and Jonathan exited the movie she was so angry she cried, and doesn't think she's cried so hard in a very long time.

According to Daly, the woman mentioned several other options and offered refunds, toys, free popcorn, drinks, other films and other screening times. The employee even offered to sit the family in the front row, to which Daly told her Jonathan's challenge is he cannot bend his neck forward or turn his head due to cervical spine issues.

WGN reported that in a statement, AMC Theaters Director of Corporate Communications Ryan Noonan told the news source "a manager received multiple complaints about an 'ongoing disruption' during the film, and after observing the issue, spoke with Daly.

"To ensure a quality movie going experience for everyone, disruptive behavior is not permitted during a movie," Noonan added in an emailed statement.

"Why would you put me back in a movie where you just kicked me out? " Daly asked in her post. "Why would you not do your due diligence and make sure the complaint was legitimate? Why would you not give me a warning first? If I did not comply then kick me out?"

Although Daly said she received movie vouchers and the woman gave Daly her contact information so she can "make this right," Daly is still sad, angry and has many questions. She also said she never asks anything of anybody, but does want to make sure this kind of incident never happens to anyone ever again.

"I don’t know if I will ever feel like I could go to the movies again because I won’t be able to enjoy myself if my son laughs that I might get kicked out. He has seen so many movies with me and we have never had a problem. So sorry buddy," Daly said.

Read Daly's post in its entirety below: