May 8: Jim LeBrecht, Nyle DiMarco, Elizabeth Bonker’s valedictorian speech

Transcript

Today we celebrate filmmaker and sound designer with spina bifida Jim LeBrecht, Deaf actor Nyle DiMarco, and the anniversary of nonspeaking autistic student Elizabeth Bonker’s valedictorian speech (2022).

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Hello and welcome to the Disability Daily Podcast! I’m your host, Katie, and over the past couple years, I’ve worked on a 365-day calendar that recognizes different folks and key moments in disability history each day of the year. I’m turning this into a quick daily podcast, and I’m excited to share this with you!

If you’re committed to learning more about disability and accessibility, please subscribe to the podcast on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and share with friends.

See the Disability Daily Calendar (work on it is always ongoing!)

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Learn more:

• Be the Light: Elizabeth Bonker’s 2022 Valedictorian Speech at Rollins College Commencement

• A nonspeaking valedictorian with autism gives her college's commencement speech : NPR

• A Conversation with Elizabeth Bonker - Uniquely Human: The Podcast  

• Elizabeth Bonker & The Bleeding Hearts 

• ‘Crip Camp’ Brings the Inclusion Revolution to the Oscars

• Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020; 106 minutes)

• Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act (2025; 53 minutes) 

• Nyle DiMarco

 

Song: "It's Kinda Beautiful" by Water Mirrors from Epidemic Sound