Just finished listening to Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism by Ron Suskind.   Suskind, a Pulitzer prize-winning author, writes a very intriguing and enlightening memoir about parenting a child with Autism.  His son, Owen, once unable to speak, finds his voice and self through the magic of Disney. 

The story of Owen is a testament to how much we do not know about Autism, and why it is so important that we continue our search to understand and overcome the misconceptions surrounding this syndrome.  I have had the good fortune to work closely with several children and an adult whose lives have been challenged by Autism and know first hand the richness of the gift they have to offer, if only we can learn to “speak” their language.

Here is Owen talking about the characters that helped shaped him:

“Animating Owen” by Roger Ross Williams

(Click on link to watch video.  Borrowed from lifeanimated.net, Ron Suskind’s site in support of the Autism Affinities Project.  Go to the site for more information and videos, etc.)

Owen’s story is only one of many – stories that will change the way we view people with Autism, and hopefully, help us all be a little kinder and more perceptive.