Nonspeaking valedictorian with autism delivers inspiring speech at Rollins College

A graduating student of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida with nonverbal autism gave a valedictorian speech via a text-to-speech computer program. (Credit: Rollins College via Storyful)

WINTER PARK, Fla. - A graduating Florida student of Rollins College in Winter Park with nonverbal autism gave a valedictorian speech on May 8, via a text-to-speech computer program.

Rollins College released video of the speech given by Elizabeth Bonker, who said she typed the address using one finger with a communication partner holding a keyboard.

Bonker said she was one of few people with nonspeaking autism who had been taught to type.

"That one critical intervention unlocked my mind from its silent cage, enabling me to communicate and to be educated, like my hero, Helen Keller," she said.

During her inspiring speech, she told her fellow classmates, "Personally, I have struggled my whole life with not being heard or accepted. A story on the front page of our local newspaper reported how the principal at my high school told a staff member, ‘The r****d can’t be valedictorian’."

The graduating student received her degree in social innovation. She had recently formed a nonprofit organization called Communication 4 ALL, dedicated to promoting communication access for the millions of people with nonspeaking autism worldwide.

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