Finding Owen

Over the weekend, I watched a 20/20 episode called Finding Owen.  It was a true story about a boy who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two.  He never spoke or looked anyone in the eye.  All he did was watch and re-watch Disney movies.  He ended up memorizing every line of each movie.  Come to find out, Owen was processing his entire life through these movies.  Because of Hercules, he understood courage and determination. Because of Bambi, he understood the feeling of loss.  And because of Aladdin, he understood that he was unique and special.  For whatever Owen was feeling, he related it to a Disney movie. This amazing discovery has opened the door to a better understanding Autism.  Owen has made a career out of his own story and is now sharing his love of Disney with others. 

 I think it’s amazing how something so common as a Disney movie can make such an impact in someone’s life.  And because of this one life being impacted, he is now impacting the lives of hundreds more.  At the end of the day, film is a fairly ordinary thing, but in some cases it can make an extraordinary difference.