At a time when the media is filled with gloomy news and sad incidents, Atlanta teenager Makayla Cain is offering inspiration to everyone. The 17-year-old is the subject of a mini-documentary, Makayla’s voice: a letter to the world. Originally released in 2023, the film follows the story of this amazing girl who lives with a rare form of autism known as Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS).
His father, music producer Khari “Needlz” Cain, and mother, Manana Cain, have worked tirelessly to get him the support he needs. When Makayla was 14, they discovered whiteboard therapy, which not only helped them communicate with Makayla, but also allowed her to talk to the world. This emotional documentary won 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 December 11th, Makayla has started a conversation about children’s non-verbal abilities and offered resources for parents.
New documentary shares Makayla Cain’s inspiring journey
At age three, Makayla Cain’s parents knew something was different about their son. After concerns about her not responding to commands arose both at home and at daycare, the family sought medical intervention and quickly learned that Makayla was autistic. Being diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid syndrome helped explain his sporadic movements, inability to speak and behavioral challenges.
The film takes viewers on Makayla’s family journey to blackboard therapy. At the time of filming, he is eight months into his treatment and has made incredible progress. The sessions allow Makayla to use a whiteboard and point at letters to communicate her thoughts and feelings. Through this process, Makayla has begun to express her poetry, a talent that has been hidden for years. “Before we knew how to write on a blackboard, we had no idea what we were thinking,” Manana expressed in the documentary. “For her to communicate, it’s a beautiful thing, because it’s like, who is this kid? And we’re still learning who she is.”
Throughout the documentary, narrator Portia Cue reads some of Makayla’s poetry. In one of her poems, Makayla expressed, “The most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard is the hollow way the air flows through the trees. The sound goes unnoticed by most. But to me, it sings to me. Create melodies that are like my own. Noise is my muse. In silence, we are the hidden beauty. Winds of autism.”
The teenager’s family started a non-profit organization in his honor
With Makayla Cain forming complete sentences and holding conversations through whiteboard therapy, her parents have been motivated to help others with non-verbal family members. That’s why they’ve started the organization Makayla’s Voice in honor of their daughter in hopes that others can benefit from whiteboard therapy as well.
The Atlanta-based nonprofit focuses on non-verbal people age 22 and younger. Makayla’s Voice is looking to open a comprehensive treatment center that offers therapeutic programs and community outreach. In addition, the facility will offer subsidies for those who cannot afford certain therapies. To help fund this mission, Dr. Maxine Hankins Cain, Makayla’s grandmother, wrote a children’s book titled “When Makayla smiles.” This piece of literature highlights her journey and her desire to be an advocate for other children like her.
