Finding A Way To Connect With Their Son
Ron and Cornelia learned to tap into Owen’s consciousness by mimicking Disney characters. Iago, Sebastian, Balloo, Mrs. Potts, and many more were real people to him—characters that helped Owen define himself. They were “sidekicks”—Owen brought this word forward himself. Ron browsed through Owen’s sketchbooks and found a powerful statement of Owen’s: “No Sidekick Gets Left Behind.” The Suskind family has spoken frequently on what they have termed, “Disney Therapy.” Walt Disney’s original intent for his movies was for audiences to understand what was happening even with the audio track gone—all by the expressions on the character’s faces. For Owen and others like him, this is a powerful tool to reach inside their minds and help them connect their own emotions with the words the characters are saying. Owen has started a Disney movie club at his university on Cape Cod, where his brother, Walt, participates, as does Owen’s girlfriend whom he’s been seeing for two years. Walt Disney may not ever have realized the profound impact his movies would have on millions. Then again, perhaps he would say the same as one of his future characters, Iago: Why am I not surprised?