Pastel-colored shapes of figures with the text
Image courtesy of All Together.

MSU student group All Together to host screening of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” April 16.

A newly-formed organization based at Michigan State University, All Together, will be hosting a movie night featuring a screening of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, at Celebration Cinema at 200 E. Edgewood Blvd. in Lansing.

All Together is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. Through this event, All Together hopes to create a friendly and comfortable environment to help properly develop social and communication skills for children with these types of disabilities.

“We hope to create positive interactions between the children and families attending the events as well as educate students of our university about this demographic that is very underrepresented and needs to be advocated more for,” said All Together President Brennan Haugen.

The event will be free and open to the public, and although it is being held in Lansing, people from all around the state are actively encouraged to participate.

“All families with children are welcome to attend our event,” Haugen said. “We are focusing on the age range of 7 to 12.”

Individuals interested in a career in education and/or special education are also encouraged to attend the event.

“Professionally, this is an amazing opportunity for people who want to work with children and develop useful interpersonal and communication skills,” said club member Sit Soe.

The organization will be renting out one cinema auditorium to help accommodate as many people who wish to attend as possible. Participants will walk into the movie theater and be greeted by Haugen and other members of the organization who will then direct the participants on what to do from there.

“Each member has gone through a background check and sensitivity training led by a top researcher in autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities,” Soe noted.

Also, the movie itself will be sensory-friendly, which will allow for the inclusion of viewers with all types of disabilities, Haugen said.

Those who wish to take part in this event or other future events can RSVP at alltogethermsu.com/events. For more information, contact All Together President Brennan Haugen at 269-601-9570 or rso.alltogether@msu.edu.