Keynote & Film Screening: Inclusion in the Arts

Marlee Matlin Live at the Putnam

Join us for an inspiring evening exploring accessibility, representation, and the power of arts and culture to create communities where everyone belongs.

The evening begins with a screening of I am disABLEd, a Fresh Films documentary sharing local stories that challenge perceptions and celebrate the contributions of individuals of all abilities.

Following the screening, Academy Award-winning actress, author, and advocate Marlee Matlin will deliver a keynote address focused on accessibility, inclusion, and the importance of ensuring every voice has the opportunity to be seen and heard.

Guests will also be among the first to experience the Putnam Museum’s new interpretive accessibility features powered by Capption technology.

Additional screenings of I am disABLEd will take place August 20–23.

Wednesday, August 19  |  GIANT Screen Theater
Get Your Tickets Now!

Doors & Cocktail Hour: 5:30 PM
Screening Begins: 6:30 PM

Featured Program

• Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress, author, and advocate
• Fresh Films Documentary: I am disABLEd

Attendance is limited to 220 guests.

About Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin received worldwide critical acclaim for her film debut in Paramount Pictures’ Children of a Lesser God, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress. At 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar and only one of four actresses to receive the honor for her film debut. In addition to the Oscar, Marlee received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama. In 2021, Marlee was nominated for an Academy Award once again as Executive Producer for the Live Action Short, “Feeling Through.” In 2022, her Apple TV+ film CODA swept every category it was nominated in at the 2022 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In her documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, released in 2025, she reflects on

her life in her primary language of American Sign Language and explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer, including her successful effort to ensure all film and television programming is closed captioned.

About “I am disABLEd”

Autism. ADHD. Bipolar disorder. Down Syndrome. These are diagnoses, not definitions. I Am disABLEd challenges viewers to look beyond the label and see the full humanity, creativity, and capability of young people navigating the world with disabilities.

“A person is a person, no matter how small.” That iconic phrase captures the heart of this powerful documentary which follows the journey of nine youth with disabilities as they stage the musical Seussical. As these young artists take center stage, the spotlight shines on their abilities and similarities to all of us.

I Am disABLEd invites all audiences—the small and the tall—to discover what’s truly possible when we lead with empathy, celebrate individuality, and redefine what it means to belong.

Click here to learn more about the film.

About Capption

Making curiosity accessible for everyone.

Through Culture Bright support, the Putnam will be the first museum in the region to provide Capption, a technology to create full access for all.

Every visitor deserves a dignified, effortless experience learning about inspirational works at museums, galleries, parks, nature centers, public areas, sacred spaces, and commercial venues. Capption is a purpose-built assistive technology that shatters barriers and fosters deep connections to stories that inspire.