A non-speaking autistic student gives a speech at the graduation ceremony. What is the moving and courageous message? | HuffPost WORLD

Use your voice for others.

In Florida, USA, a non-speaking autistic student stood in a speech by alumni representatives to encourage their peers.

At the Rollins College graduation ceremony held on May 8th529 peopleElizabeth Bonker made a speech on behalf of the graduates. She was unanimously selected as the representative speech by the other four valedictorians.

Rollins College valedictorian Elizabeth Bonker ’22, who’s affected by non-speaking autism and communicates solely by typing, urges her fellow graduates to use their voices, serve others, and see the value in everyone they meet.

Hear her message: https://t.co/xJh7eBRxtO pic.twitter.com/TE1jPqodFV

— Rollins College (@rollinscollege) May 9, 2022

Bonker stopped speaking at the age of 15 months and becameLater diagnosed with autism。

Alumni representative speechSo, I used a computer program to convert characters to voice.

“I typed this speech with one finger, with my communication partner holding down the keyboard.”

“I’m one of the lucky non-speaking autistic people who have been taught typing. This one very important intervention frees my mind from the cage of silence, enables communication, and He educated me like my hero, Helen Keller. “

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He also touched on the suffering denied by others.

“On the front page of a local newspaper, it is written that the principal of a high school told the staff,’That mentally handicapped person can’t be a graduate.’ Still, I’m standing here today. I’m standing here. Is celebrating his small victory every day, and today I am celebrating a big victory with all of you. “

What I told in the speech by the graduate representative

In his graduation speech, Bonker said, “The importance of living for someone.”

When Fred Rogers, one of the graduates of Rollins College and the host of a children’s show, died, he mentioned an episode in his wallet that said, “Life is for serving people.” At Rollins, we learned that service to others gives meaning to our lives. “

Mr. Bonker is an NPO he established, “Communication 4 ALL“Communication for All” supports communication for people with autism who do not speak the language.

About life after graduation “I have a dream. It’s about making everyone able to communicate. There are 31 million people with autism who speak no language and are trapped in a silent cage in the world. I dedicate my life to freeing them from the suffering of silence and having a voice to choose their own path. “

And finally, he calls on his graduating companions, “God has given you a voice. Use it.”

“I don’t understand the irony of recommending a non-speaking autistic person to use a voice, because if you think it’s worth me, it’s worth it to everyone you meet. “

It was her mother, Virginia Breen, who helped Bonker, who stopped speaking at an early age, to communicate in ways other than conversation.

When Bonker was 6 years old, he learned how to communicate by pointing at letters.learningAfter that, I learned typing.

Mr. Breen is a local TV stationWESH“We should create an environment where people with autism who do not speak the language can communicate,” he said in an interview.

In the same interview, Bonker said:

“I’m not special, all non-speaking autistic students can learn typing.”

“We have to change our view of autism. Just because we can’t speak doesn’t mean we don’t feel or think.”