Makayla’s Voice: A Letter To The World

“I dream one day of hearing my voice. I hope it’s raspy, giving me a unique sound,” 14-year-old Makayla says through the borrowed voice of V/O artist Portia Cue.

Makayla is described as autistic, but her situation is a little more complicated. She has a partially deleted chromosome, meaning that some aspects of her development didn’t turn out in the standard way. As a result, she is unable to speak. For much of her life, this cut her off from those around her; she was much loved but little known. Now, however, the use of a letter board is revolutionising her life. Julio Palacio’s Oscar-shortlisted short documentary is not just a portrait of an unusual teenager. It’s the story of parents getting to know their child for the first time.

Although she has faced difficulties in life, and she acknowledges that she struggles sometimes with feelings of frustration and envy (something exacerbated, for many disabled people, by the rarity of opportunities to see others in the full and unapologetic way that this film makes possible), Makayla also has advantages. Her father is a successful music producer, so she has grown up in a comfortable environment full of artistic stimulation. She loves music, and sound more generally, having immersed herself in observation due to being free of the obligation to speak. She also loves visual art, especially Van Gogh, to whom she feels a sense of connection, drawn to his use of colour as a communication tool. When she’s outside in the parks that she loves, Palacio paints in the artist’s swirling skies behind her.

Using a letter board is not necessarily easy, her assistant, Roxy, explains. Makayla also has difficulties with movement, hence not being able to communicate through typing or texting, and she had to build up strength in her arms in order to be able to point to letters accurately. Now she’s fast. Years’ worth of thoughts seem to explode out of her. She’s keenly intelligent and keen to advocate for others in similar situations. When she’s walking outside with family members, we see people looking at her, noticing the different way she moves, and it’s clear that they have no idea what’s inside. Many viewers will look at the disabled people in their neighbourhoods differently after seeing this film.

This is not a film about saviours or the wonders of technology. It’s very much Makayla’s own story. Six months ago, she was able to introduce herself to her parents. Now she’s introducing herself to the world. Her voice may be indirect, but it shapes Palacio’s work. She has already begun writing fiction, and it would not be surprising if she is creating her own films or music in the years to come.