Nonverbal Autistic Kids’ Success Stories

Naheed Ali, MD, PhD
ILLUMINATION
Published in
3 min readMay 30, 2022

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Photo by Luna Lovegood: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-wearing-red-brown-and-white-stripe-sweater-running-photo-1104007/

A person with non-verbal autism is unable to talk or can only pronounce a few words. Have you ever heard of a “non-verbal autistic kid?” They may not be able to communicate, but they can still enjoy life. More institutions recognize a learning gap between vocal and nonverbal children. Not all children with communication issues can make their words clear from morning tonight. They’re often called “non-verbal” or “autistic.” Autism causes oversensitivity to sounds, movements, and sights. Some autistic people are too sensitive to go to school or work outside the house. This article will highlight some success stories of people with autism who overcame challenges and altered their lives for the better. These individuals show how living with autism doesn’t have to be tough or terrifying — it can be full of adventure, hope, and fun!

Autistic Valedictorian

Due to her nonverbal autism, Bonker hasn’t spoken since she was 15 months old. She interacts via computer, though, thanks to advances in technology. It also helped that her classmates and professors were accommodating; she overcame various challenges and graduated first in her class at the school in the Orlando, Florida, area. On May 8, she made her remarks using text-to-speech computer technology at the Rollins University graduation ceremony in Florida.

An Autistic Who is Community-Oriented

Sam, 16 years old, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the age of three. He was non-verbal and had no opportunity to acquire language at the time. However, with the help of his family, friends, and teachers, he has made significant progress in recent years. His ASD is recognized as a handicap, not a character flaw, to this day. The school he attends grants him special permission to use the “extra” room, which is reserved for disabled kids. Additionally, his social circle consists of people with impairments, so he does not feel much different from other children his age.

An Autistic Person Who Enjoyed Music

A 14-year-old autistic boy, Hayden enjoys playing the piano and composing music. He was on medication for most of his life. Hayden has been prescribed Adderall, a stimulant medicine intended to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder rather than the antidepressants that are generally provided for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Because of this, both his memory and musical abilities were hampered. Due to his medicine and autism, he had a terrible time during his first few years of high school. He did not always feel capable of playing his favorite computer music. In addition, he developed difficulties with public speaking, which hindered his participation in school activities.

A Highly-Functioning Autistic Teenager Who Started a Travel Blog

Miles, a sixteen-year-old. She was entirely verbal from the age of two. Things changed a few years ago. She was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a kind of autism spectrum disorder. Her diagnosis made her feel alone and fearful of social contact. It also made her wonder if she would ever be able to articulate her emotions adequately again. She was aware that speaking up was critical to her health and well-being, but she also felt conflicted. She began a travel blog, which grew in popularity with hundreds of readers in America.

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18491223/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30247851/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29763648/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28722868/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32907344/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557548/

https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.FTR2.15012010.14

Nonspeaking autistic valedictorian gives powerful graduation speech (usatoday.com)

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