Letter Speak Services

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Elizabeth Bonker stopped speaking when she was 15 months old.

Within hours, her words were gone. Her mother Virginia described watching it happen in real time — her daughter’s voice simply disappeared.

Doctors didn’t offer much hope. But her family refused to give up. At age five, Elizabeth was taught to type. And when she typed her first words, something extraordinary became clear.

She had never stopped having something to say. She just hadn’t been given a way to say it.

Elizabeth went on to graduate as valedictorian of Rollins College in Florida. She delivered her commencement address to thousands of people — not with her voice, but through text-to-speech software. The speech went viral.

“I am not special,” she said. “We need to change the way the world sees non-speaking autism. It is a neuromotor disorder, not a cognitive one.”

She founded Communication 4 ALL — a nonprofit built on one principle: that communication is a basic human right. 26 letters. A stencil. An internet connection. That’s all it takes to unlock a mind that the world wrote off.

An estimated 31 million people worldwide are non-speaking and autistic. Most have never been taught to type, point to a board, or use an AAC device. Not because it’s impossible. Because nobody gave them the chance.

Elizabeth is trying to change that — one letter at a time.

Source: Communication 4 ALL / Newsweek / Rollins College

Just sharing my latest blog:

Our Helen Keller Moment Are we finally there on this arduous journey? There are moments in life you know will be forever imprinted in your mind, and this is one of them. Am I finally getting to know the real Blake — the one we have spent his entire life making assumptions about and decisions for?I think back to when Blak...

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As a speech therapist, I was taught that all behaviour is communication. Nonspeakers have shown me that this is not true. We are often just seeing dysregulation. Thank you Leane for saying it so eloquently.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B8gZxR3S4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🎤Luke's Poem was read by Former Senator Jim Munson at a Parliamentary Reception in Luke's honour as the 5th recipient of the Jim & Ginette Munson Autism Leadership Award, presented in Ottawa April 15, 2026.

My Place Outside Silence
The world spins slowly
As I find my place within
Reaching
Expanding
Challenging the status quo
My flame burns bright
Some shield themselves in fright,
Others in ignorance,
Ableism
Ego or spite
As I find my place within
I am alive with courage
Silence is not an option.

Luke Verhoeff

To watch Former Senator Jim Munson read Luke's poem, go to Luke Verhoeff's YouTube channel.

https://youtube.com/shorts/d4iTyFrUIAA?si=Z0Gx7A7kuk1PCGhF

Canada's National Autism Network
Mentoring Minds
Cyndi Gerlach
Suzanne Perreault

This is the states again but I still say it affects us https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/help-us-stop-harmful-disability-narratives-from-being-amplified/thankyou?fbclid=IwRlRTSARqTz9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe09pF8O-MdECEEjPXdBWZSSWGobFvbQDMufV6jnw9MGpAclS5vknKoVT6IR0_aem_KSVlH3cSzQBUpEaP3s2k1Q

Thank You - Action Network Action Network

This is in the States but decisions there affect us too. It’s really cool Helen Keller’s great niece is working with this! https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HqzVuUi8Z/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CzXZV6STB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Debunked! Now the NY Times has allowed Dr. Lutz to post a thank you on their page, reigniting the frenzy on both sides. (What is better for a news media outlet than a heated, emotional controversy...