Enniskillen: Blind girl travels 140 miles for accessible cinema screening

A 14-year-old girl who has been blind since birth had to make a 140-mile round trip to attend a cinema screening after struggling to find an accessible option closer to home. Eryn said the journey, which took about three hours in total, was necessary because the cinema was the only one her family could find offering audio description headsets for The Magic Faraway Tree, a film adapted from Enid Blyton's book series. Her family contacted several local cinemas, including the nearest to their home, but were told none could accommodate her needs. BBC News NI has contacted IMC Cinemas for a response and asked other cinema chains what services they provide for blind and visually impaired audiences. Eryn was born with a rare congenital disorder called septo-optic dysplasia, which means she has been blind since birth. She said it impacted many aspects of her life, including schoolwork and hobbies. "I'm not able to do my schoolwork the same as everyone else," she said. "I'm not able to have the same hobbies either, such as watching movies or going to the cinema. I'm not able to enjoy visuals. I wish I could go to the cinema more." Eryn, who lives near Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, said her