In a time when the media is filled with gloomy news and grim incidents, Atlanta teenager Makayla Cain is offering inspiration to all. The 17-year-old is the subject of a mini-documentary, Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World. Originally introduced in 2023, the film follows the story of this amazing young girl living with a rare form of autism known as Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS).
Her father, music producer Khari “Needlz” Cain, and mother, Manana Cain, have worked tirelessly to get her the support she needs. When Makayla was 14, they discovered letter board therapy, which not only helped them communicate with Makayla but also allowed her to speak to the world. This touching documentary took home the award for Best Documentary Short at the Tribeca Film Festival in July 2024 before being picked up by Netflix. Since debuting on the streamer on Dec. 11, Makayla has started a conversation about the capabilities of nonverbal children and offered resources for parents.
New Documentary Shares Makayla Cain’s Inspiring Journey
At the age of three, Makayla Cain’s parents knew something was different about their child. After concerns about her not responding to commands arose both at home and in daycare, the family sought medical intervention, quickly learning that Makayla was autistic. Being diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome helped explain her sporadic movements, inability to speak and behavioral challenges.
The film takes viewers on the family journey to Makayla’s letter board therapy. At the time of filming, she is eight months into her treatment and has made incredible strides. The sessions allow Makayla to use a board and point to letters in order to communicate her thoughts and feelings. Through this process, Makayla has begun expressing her poetry, a talent that has been hidden for years. “Before she knew how to letter board, we had no idea what she was thinking,” Manana expressed in the documentary. “Having her communicate, it’s a beautiful thing, cause it’s like, who is this child? And we’re still learning who she is.”
Throughout the doc, some of Makayla’s poetry is read by narrator Portia Cue. In one of her poems, Makayla expressed, “The most beautiful sound I ever heard, is the empty way the air flows between the trees. The sound goes unnoticed by most. But, to me, it sings. It creates melodies that resemble my own silence. I belong in nature. Effortless noise. The wind is my muse. It inspires me to beam in my own way. Silent? Humph! Not Us! We are the sound of hidden beauty. Winds of autism.”
Teen’s Family Started a Non-Profit in Her Honor
With Makayla Cain forming full sentences and holding conversations through letter board therapy, her parents have become motivated to help others with nonverbal family members. That is why they’ve launched the Makayla’s Voice organization in their daughter’s honor in hopes that others, too, can benefit from letter board therapy.
The Atlanta-based non-profit focuses on nonverbal people 22 and younger. Makayla’s Voice is seeking to open a full treatment center providing therapeutic programs and community outreach. Additionally, the facility will offer grants for those unable to afford certain therapies. To help fund this mission, Dr. Maxine Hankins Cain, Makayla’s grandmother, penned a children’s book titled “When Makayla Smiles.” This literature piece highlights her journey and desire to be an advocate for other children like her.
