Breaking through autism

[@willfinn7243]

Wow. I was the supervising animator for "Iago" and "Cogsworth" in Disney's ALADDIN and BEAUTY & THE BEAST and worked on several other of the films shown here. It is startling to see the work my crew and I drew and animated 20+ years ago show up in this surprising context. I feel happy and honored to have been part of a legacy that touched Owen's life and the lives of others like him. For whatever it's worth Owen might be glad to know that the generation of Disney characters from the prior generation of animators helped me get through some tough times as a kid too. Thanks for sharing this story.

[@noahman39]

May I ask why I cannot find your credits anywhere? For more supervising animators, especially for the ones created in this time period, I am able to find their credits quite quickly. Not accusing you of lying, just curious as to why this might be the case?

[@somethingwithbungalows]

blankblank that’s really cool!

[@koisneurotypical]

As a Mom to an autistic Teen, thank you for this story. I didn't know "affinity therapy" was a thing- it's basically what I've been trying to do with her (find stuff that she likes- to open her up to the world and help her develop... seems like common sense, right?) Sometimes the simplest things are the most powerful. Much love to Owen and his family.

[@Allergictocatstoo]

Love the commitment from Owen’s parents! This offers such insights, how lovingly beautiful!

[@kevintravers3988]

"I help others fulfill their destiny."- I watched the Life Animated documentary, and after watching Owen's own life play out, it helped me figure out that I could help others on the spectrum like him. Since I myself am on the Autism spectrum, and watched Disney almost as religiously as he did, his story had a profound impact on me. I don't see Owen as a sidekick, I see him as the hero of his own story and life. But I think he was right with that quote his father reiterated. Now I work at an Autism organization helping kids in my community, giving them some extra attention and help. All thanks to Owen's story.

[@broadwaymelody33]

I have Sensory Processing Disorder and had a Language processing disorder when I was younger, and Disney movies were crucial to my language development. I’m amazed at how much I relate to this. I cried when he said he related to Big Simba because he’s not as scared as he was when he was a kid.

[@ChristineMHale]

As the mother of a teen on the spectrum, thanks for uploading this. We have been using Affinity Therapy without knowing it has a name. My teen loves KZbinrs and fan fiction. It was through both that she battled profound dyslexia and now reads on a 3rd grade level - something I had only ever dreamed of. My Behavior Pathology (focus on DSM 5) class brought me here. #UND

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

For me I’m an autistic young adult and I’m still an independent person and I managed to fought off the nonverbal autistic spectrum diagnosis by the time I was 5

[@Marcydalmatian]

What do you mean fought off?

[@edgarallanpoestheblackcat6613]

I had an obsession with the Lion King when I was little, and they wanted to limited it as much as possible. But this was back in the old days, before they knew how to treat things like autism properly.

[@nakiabarber2846]

This is so amazing. My son is autistic and I am learning so much from him from this.

[@davidsharif2696]

One of the best animated documentaries and stories of all time.

[@kingdomtruth7773]

Wow! This story first started out with a toddler developing normally and trying to talk. However, it turns to sadness as he lost all speech. Then to the parents Amazing joy, he starts talking again. As I am watching I can see it’s real. Yes. it’s unbelievable yet a true story with a miraculous positive ending. However, it happened I don’t know, but I’m so extremely happy for this young man and his family. To God be the glory. ❤ However, someone gets their healing, whether diet, supplements, therapy or a supernatural miracle, for those who experience it or whose loved ones are made better, it is wonderful.😊. As a Mother of a now 9 year old on the Autism Spectrum, we are praying, believing and waiting for our Miracle as well. Blessings - Reklamation Ministries

[@YTfancol]

Brilliant. Beautiful, moving story.

[@elsakristina2689]

Afflicted?! Excuse me, but... I am autistic and I am not suffering from it. The only thing about it that I suffer from is IGNORANCE that leads to society thinking I'm sick when I'm not.

[@rainbow_T]

Agree I'm proudly autistic and I pray that one day people will realise our potential and not keep looking at us as bad because we are not, and it frustrates me because if it was in their shoes they would know how we feel in society

[@piratejack6577]

I’m autistic too. When will people stop thinking vaccines did it? Is thing I’m mad about

[@brucewayne3074]

Give me a second, I, I need to get my story straight! My friends are all at school right now, being happier than the Empire State! My lover, I don't have one, and I'm not surprised. My seat's been taken by some poolgaz, waiting to bite me. I know I didn't seem autistic a few months ago, I know I'm trying to forget...but between the depression and subtle things, the holes in my circumstances, I'm trying hard to take life back! So if by the time, I graduate and I still can't do anything, I will move...to the juuuuungle! Where I belooooong! So I set myself on fire! I can burn brighter than the suuuuuuuuun!

[@a.herrera7940]

Just because YOU aren’t afflicted, it doesn’t mean others aren’t. Don’t forget, it is a SPECTRUM. While you type away being “offended”, there are autistics that can’t read or write and still wear diapers at age 20. Don’t be so ignorant.

[@asimidrizovic599]

@@piratejack6577 I am the parent of an autistic boy aged 5 years. When we went to the categorization, the logoped asks if the boy was vaccinated because for 16 years her work was asked by everyone and there was not yet a child who was not vaccinated with autism my child will no longer get any vaccine, even if i went to jail for that

[@mumr4268]

Oh...it makes me cry...soooo amazing!!!

[@Ecosdelalma.]

This is such a beauiful story made me teary ❤

[@Cars-N-Jets]

I'm watching this in Speech for the last couple of days of school.

[@lizet3more]

I need this for my daughter.

[@amberbond5645]

The information contained within this ten minute video was powerful and made an impact on my life. You see how Owens family was at a loss when, at nearly the age of 3, he stopped sleeping, lost eye contact, and then his language stopped. At that time the only thing they really knew about Autism came from the movie Rain Man. Owen had a fascination with Disney movies. He would sit for hours watching the movies because that is what made him happy. Then after four years he recited a sentence at his brother’s birthday party from the movie Peter Pan. All the time spent watching the movies had unlocked something inside of Owen. Owens dad asked him what it felt like to be him using and talking in the voice of a hand puppet. Owen told his Dad the following. “It’s not good. I’m lonely and I have no friends.” I was amazed at the strides that Owen made in his development by watching the Disney movies. He taught himself to read by the age of 8 by sounding out the movie credits. He learned to draw the sidekick characters. He enjoyed these characters because he could relate to them. I have to wonder what the results would have been had his parents not let him watch those movies? This just goes to show that their obsession over something may hold the key to unlocking what is inside them. Owen graduated from a school for special needs at the age of 23. The movies helped him with the ways of life and how to live. He learned that it was ok to try new things out in the world. When it came to relationships Owen said that Beauty and the Beast helped him. Owen was the frontrunner of starting a Disney club in order to find people that were like him. People that could talk about how they relate to the Disney characters. This step gave him the courage to be a leader, especially among his peers. There was also another child named Parker that had an obsession over animals. His love of animals was used in therapy to help him become interested in other people. This is where Affinity Therapy comes into play. They take their obsession and make it central to their social world. This short clip and the examples they used of two children with different obsessions was very eye opening. I never really knew how important to them that their obsessions, or as I like to say, fixations, are to them in their everyday life. I have learned that it is important to take into consideration, when planning their academic needs, that we look very closely at what they enjoy doing. I am amazed that we can take their fixations and make it central to their social world. We need to watch their reactions to the task they are embarking upon that is enjoyable to them. We could integrate the fixations into their IEP’s or other programming. We have to be careful and not focus all of their goals and objectives on tasks that are not favorable to them. If we take these things away from them who knows what may happen to any progress or potential gains in their lives. I look forward to using the fixations of future students as a way to bridge their understanding of the world around them. I want to utilize their likes into favorable goals and objectives that are unique to them. I want to open up their world to greater understanding. We need to take those fixations and as use them as motivators. They would make a great means of redirection. Using their interests in class discussions would also be a way to peak their desire to learn more and get them interested in participating somewhat with their peers. As they become older we need to help them focus on a career rather than on just academics. We must all remember that they are individuals who want to be a part of the world around them. We, as educators, need to be a part of unlocking their world and showing them the way.

[@unsolvedcasesandnews]

My son talked all the time and it was like he lost all the words he learnt ......his only word he used was juice ......he likes to spend time alone and he always loved just DR who .....and super hero’s ...he was always collecting toys and now he collects flags and cars and hats . He has receptive and expressive language disorder but I have always thought he has autism also ....what does anyone else think ? I have fought for many years to get the correct help and he is now home taught . Socialising isn’t his thing either

[@unsolvedcasesandnews]

Stephen Gorecki how f....... dare you wtf

[@davidlafleche1142]

What's the point of socializing? All they do is yap about meaningless things. It's not as though "social" people do anything substantive!

[@emiliobello2538]

This was in the documentary Life, Animated. The documentary should have been of Disney and should have won Best Documentary Feature

[@tessema2]

wow! What great parents are you folks? Great family!!!

[@GillyWhitfootHaysend]

I read this book and it was very, very good.

[@kellykim3684]

Incredible parents

[@andyoutlaww7494]

I would like to share my input I’ve been autistic since I was about three years old or maybe three months I think it was and I’m going on 29 and it’s been a long road but I’ve come upon challenges but I’ve conquered them, and just like he has a obsession with Disney movies my obsession is Cars.

[@arafhasan3397]

Hi I am from Bangladesh thanks for this excellent video

[@Honeybees1005]

Wonderful story!!

[@anetamichniak7483]

That happened to after when I turned 3 years old when my godmother found out that I had autism cause my mom saw I didn’t look in the eye my moms groomsmen and he told my mom what was happening to me and my mom said she took to the doctor.

[@Amanda-1985]

What a silly description! "New research shows that 1 out of 68 children in the U.S. is afflicted with some form of autism" ...its a bit rude to call it an AFFLICTION. Go away! (I'm Autistic).

[@corrigana1]

I have pdd nos which is under the autism spectrum umbrella

[@gemmaleaver88]

What a lovely video

[@wemuk5170]

Our son stopped speaking the few words he has had overnight. It was as if he suffered a lightning stroke silently in our absence. It was that tragic & dramatic. There was nothing that happened: he had not fallen, he wasn’t ill, he had no vaccinations [because his immune system was such that we were advised by hospital consultants he was not to be immunised]. Overnight, he lapsed into silence/howling. Such a shock. Today he is an incredibly happy & talented musician because like them, we also accidentally discovered his obsessions and with the help of therapists, we used these obsessions to motivate him in communication & other development. People love him now & are amazed by his caring collaborative behaviour given his autism & intellectual disability. Harnessing obsessions [to bring him comfort, relaxation, joy & motivation] really works! He never recovered normal speech though: he regressed completely & then suddenly started speaking at 7+ and properly from 10+ and even now, he uses Makaton & he can speak at the most, just 1 sentence. Edit: using obsessions in therapy TRULY works. My son was obsessed with pressing cause & effect buttons including lift buttons. Now he presses piano keys & 120 accordion buttons, creating beautiful classical, folk & jazz music, bringing joy & hope to others. He also jams with all sorts & here he collaborates with neuro-typicals: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX7cpa2wbLeXl6c

[@justinplatt]

Hey I Watched Some Disney Movies And I Watched The 1988 Barry Levinson Movie: Rain Man And I Have Autism Too And I Wonder If Owen Suskind Has Watched The Movie: Rain Man At 1:28 Ron Says All We Know Is Rain Man

[@clintonkotcha7452]

i understand, my daughter is in the same boat

[@ARCHomeBases]

Im crying

[@bondigbinosa6699]

I have autism

[@sineadbaker5225]

Same

[@piratejack6577]

Me too

[@aspiechan420]

Same here

[@teresaolofson2221]

OWEN Have to do Something Very Special Something That Sparks her/his interest.

[@teresaolofson2221]

:Life Animated : Ron Suskind Owen's Father

[@benaybrannon6866]

Those first three weeks sounded like a stroke. Just throwing that out there.

[@zachjohnson4530]

I have Autism 🧩

[@angielee3365]

These parents r lying

[@kohare2431]

💉

[@taraboyce6800]

Does anyone here have any experience with service dogs for autistic kids? I have heard some very encouraging stories, and I'm thinking about looking into it. Looking forward to hearing your opinions. Here is one website of an organization that trains the dogs www.dogs4lives.com Any and all input would be greatly appreciated!

[@tjmichael8773]

They tried one with my autistic niece but she is afraid of dogs. The problem with helping people with autism Is no two have identical set of symptoms so each requires an individualized treatment plan

[@babushkapoponick3384]

He probably got innoculations

[@sofieliana4231]

Whata lot of crap

[@MRF2188]

This is so cool 🥲 , hopefully one day my son on the spectrum can talk to me

[@Marcydalmatian]

And even if he doesn't talk, it's ok, there's nothing wrong with being non speaking. There's apps and devices that can help a non speaker.