Non-Verbal Autistic Woman Delivers Valedictorian Speech

Source: Good Morning America

Elizabeth Bonker is a graduating senior at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. On May 8th, she delivered the commencement speech to the college’s 529 graduating students. Good Morning America reports Bonker was unanimously chosen and supported by the colleges 4 other valedictorians to deliver the speech.

GMA went on to explain that Elizabeth has not spoken since she was about 15 months due to autism, but still delivered a moving speech to her fellow classmates.  Using a text to speech computer program to deliver her remarks.  

Bonker writes, “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, ‘This retard can’t be valedictorian.’” Bonker continues in her speech, as reported by GMA, to say “Yet today, here I stand. Each day, I choose to celebrate small victories, and today, I am celebrating a big victory with all of you.”

Bonker is also known as a poet and an author, creating a book titled “I Am in Here”, documenting her experience as a child with autism.

Receiving a degree in Social Innovation, Bonker created a non-profit organization, Communication 4 ALL, which according to the website, has a mission to "ensure that non-speakers with autism have access to the communication and education essential to living meaningful lives,"

Bonker ends her speech by saying, "Whatever our life choices, each and every one of us can live a life of service — to our families, to our communities and to the world. And the world can't wait to see our light shine."

To hear the entire speech visit, bit.ly/3kSQRJp