Elizabeth Bonker delivers the graduation speech at Rollins College, May 8, 2022. Courtesy, Rollins College
Elizabeth Bonker has non-speaking autism, and she has not uttered a word since she was 15-months old. So, when she was unanimously selected by her four fellow valedictorians to deliver the graduation speech to their Rollins College graduating class, she rose to the occasion. Ms. Bonker used a text-to-speech computer program to deliver her May 8th speech to the 529 grads assembled at the Winter Park, Florida college.
“Personally, I have struggled my whole life with not being heard or accepted,” Bonker lamented in her speech. “A story on the front page of our local newspaper reported how the principal at my high school told a staff member, ‘The retard can’t be valedictorian.’” She pressed on, “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.”
Ms. Bonker’s developmental disability did not stop her from earning a degree in social innovation – she has even started her own non-profit organization, called Communication 4 ALL, working to “ensure that non-speakers with autism have access to the communication and education essential to living meaningful lives,” according to the mission statement on the organization’s’ website.
Approximately 31 million people around the world have non-speaking autism, meaning that autism has affected their capacity to communicate or speak. Around one in 44 children has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is more prevalent than first believed.
“God gave you a voice. Use it… And no, the irony of a non-speaking autistic encouraging you to use your voice is not lost on me. Because if you can see the worth in me, then you can see the worth in everyone you meet.” Ms. Bonker requested her fellow graduates use their voices and be of service to their communities, sentiment inspired by Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood fame, who graduated from Rollins College in 1951. You can hear her message here.
Use your voice and be of service. A mode for living here on Earth that would suit all of us well. Elizabeth Bonker shows us how important that is. Putting things in perspective, we often take our individual power to impact the lives of others for granted. We shouldn’t let the inspiration, or the rarity, of her words go to waste. Use your voice and be of service whenever, wherever you can – and we can be the change we want to see in the world.
See you on the trail,
Lisa
LMA Newsletter of 5-23-22
