Elizabeth Bonker is profoundly affected by autism and cannot speak. On Sunday, May 8th, she will give the valedictorian speech at Rollins College via a text-to-speech program. Receiving her degree in Social Innovation, Elizabeth recently formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called Communication 4 ALL, which is dedicated to promoting communication access for non-speaking individuals with autism.
Rollins’ College of Liberal Arts other four valedictorians who all achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA – Emily Curran, Sofia Frasz, Jessika Linnemeyer and Charles Mellin – unanimously elected Elizabeth to give the speech to the graduating class of 529 students. The commencement ceremony is being livestreamed.
During her time at Rollins, Elizabeth pursued an interest in public policy and advocacy. Through connections with professors at Rollins, she was able to connect with Representative Stephanie Murphy, as well as several other lawmakers on Capitol Hill, to advocate for GED access for non-speakers.
At the age of 15 months, Elizabeth lost her ability to verbally speak. Her family traveled across the country, searching for answers from various medical professionals. When Elizabeth eventually learned to communicate, first by using a letterboard and later by typing, she felt as though she was “freed from a silent cage.”
The poetry she wrote became proof of a glorious, life-affirming victory for the young girl and her family. Her book, “I Am in Here – the Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds her Voice,” is widely acclaimed.
Rollins is also featuring an article that Elizabeth wrote, titled Raising Her Voice, which includes this introduction from the college:
At 24 years old, Elizabeth Bonker ’22 already has a resume to which most would only aspire. The social innovation major, English minor, and 2022 valedictorian is an author, activist, lyricist, and founder of the nonprofit Communication 4 ALL. She’s given a TEDMED talk, starred in a documentary, and helped countless others find their voices, all while graduating with honors from Rollins at the top of her class. And she did it all without speaking a word. Bonker is affected by non-speaking autism and communicates solely by typing, and she has a lot to say, especially about the ways people like her are perceived. Hear from Bonker in her own words about her trials and triumphs and the impact Rollins has had on her life.
