An Atlanta teenager featured in the award-winning Netflix documentary “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World” will participate in the upcoming Autism Awareness Summit at the Atlanta City Hall Atrium on April 16.
Makayla Cain, who has a rare form of autism and is nonverbal, communicates using voice technology and her own unique forms of self-expression. In the 24-minute film, she shares her perspective with the world and highlights her inner brilliance.
As part of the Atlanta summit, Makayla will take part in a Q&A session.
April is World Autism Month. Autism Awareness Day was recognized on Wednesday, April 2. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2020, an estimated one in 36 children in the U.S. aged 8 years old had autism.
The Autism Awareness Summit will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 16 and will include a screening of “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World.”
Vendors and resource booths will be available for support services and information. A panel discussion will feature speakers from organizations such as the Marcus Autism Center, a subsidiary of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, according to a statement from The Empowerment Workshop.
The summit is presented by the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services and the Human Resources Wellness Team.
“Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World” won Best Documentary Short at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.
According to the festival website, the jury praised the film “for the grace with which it showed the gratitude and joy of parents unlocking the brilliance of their autistic daughter, and for how it showcased her extraordinary, once-hidden talent.”
