Nonspeaking Valedictorian Delivers Powerful Commencement Address

The Rollins College class of 2022 witnessed a remarkable valedictorian speech from Elizabeth Bonker. Bonker has autism and is nonverbal, but delivered an uplifting valedictorian speech through her text-to-speech computer, which “unlocked my mind from its silent cage, enabling me to communicate and be educated like my hero Hellen Keller.”

Elizabeth Bonker’s 2022 Commencement Address

She’s working to extend this privilege to other nonverbal autistics through her foundation Communication 4 All, which aims to give typing access to all students with nonverbal autism. In addition to her foundation, Bonker and her mother published I Am In Here in 2011 and she wrote the lyrics for the Bleeding Hearts album of the same name.

We are inspired by stories like Elizabeth’s, and we agree that everyone deserves to use their voice and make a difference.

Uncategorized

May 25, 2022

Joan Vaughn

No comments

Written by Joan Vaughn

I’m Joan, and I know home care from the inside out. I’ve navigated my daughter through 24/7 home care nursing and managed her PCA’s. I’ve helped my parents move into (and out of) assisted living, Medicare episodes, skilled nurse visits, home health aids, and PCAs. Sandwiched in all of that, I’ve helped coordinate home care equipment and supplies, physical therapists, occupational therapists, county workers, and medications (oh, the medications). I know emergency departments, children’s hospitals, cancer wards, cardiac floors, and specialty units. I can recite health insurance policies (and call their bluff). I know a lot of other things in life too, like Shakespeare, where to sit to see a great sunset over a lake, how to keep myself healthy, how to read a profit/loss statement and state statutes, when to use a comma, and that gratitude is one of the keys to success. So I’m going to have this blog and write about home care from time to time. I’ll include topics like current legislation, professional boundaries in a tricky environment, and being a caregiver. I’ll also post some guest blogs from clients and nurses. Join me in the conversation.

View all posts by: Joan Vaughn

No Comments Yet.