In the best-selling book and Oscar-nominated documentary film “Life, Animated,” Ron Suskind detailed his efforts to communicate with his son with autism using the boy’s love of Disney movies. Now the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist is seeking to put those breakthroughs literally in the palm of your hand, through the development of an app called “Sidekicks,” which could revolutionize how parents and caregivers communicate with children with autism.

Suskind will discuss his experience and demonstrate the Sidekicks app in a special appearance Nov. 5.

The event is presented by KidsPeace, and hosted by ArtsQuest at ArtsQuest Center’s Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, 101 Founders Way in Bethlehem.

This free event, which includes a screening of the documentary film and a reception hour starting at 4:30 p.m., is free to the public, but seating is limited and advance registration is required. Contact Gina Stano at gina.stano@kidspeace.org by Oct. 31 to register.

(Please note: this event is not a sensory-sensitive presentation. It is intended for parents of children on the autism spectrum, educators, clinicians and those who are interested in learning more about ways to support individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.)

In “Life, Animated,” Suskind relayed his family’s experiences in raising their son Owen, who was diagnosed with autism at age 3, and how they discovered that his interest in Disney animated movies could be the foundation of communication between him and other members of the family.

The experience led Suskind to found a company to investigate the compensatory strengths of those with autism and others who are “differently abled” due to distinctive neurology or sociocultural backgrounds, in order to build a next generation of augmentative technologies to lift and support these communities. The result is the “Sidekicks” app, which he will discuss and demonstrate at the event.

Suskind is an author, lecturer and commentator on national and international affairs. As senior national affairs reporter for The Wall Street Journal, he won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. He has been a contributor to The New York Times Magazine and Esquire, and has written a number of best-selling books on politics and national affairs in addition to “Life, Animated.”

For more information about KidsPeace, visit www.kidspeace.org.

For more information about ArtsQuest, visit www.artsquest.org.