Title:?Envision screening of?Life, Animated, Academy Award nominated documentary

Date:?June 2016

Venue:?Trusteeship Council Chamber

Speakers:

Akiko Ito, Chief, Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, United Nations

Amy Harmon, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, The New York Times (moderator)

Roger Ross Williams, Academy Award winning director

Ron Suskind, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author

Owen Suskind, star of “Life, Animated”

Cornelia Suskind

Event Summary:

Life, Animated?tells the inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young man with autism who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves into the world of classic Disney animated films. The film is directed by Roger Ross Williams and is based on the 2014 book?Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism?by Owen’s father, journalist Ron Suskind.

CCOI’s Role:

CCOI organized the screening and panel discussion in partnership with the Independent Filmmaker Project.

Related UN Issues:

Autism awareness

Rights of persons with disabilities

New Coverage: