Autism Doesn’t Slow Class Valedictorian

Being the class valedictorian is notable for anyone. Then there’s Lee Alderman, an autistic student graduating at the top of his class in the nation’s capital.

The 141 seniors graduating from Cardozo Senior High School gave him a standing ovation after his graduation speech.

At the ceremony at Howard University, Alderman, 19, thanked teachers and fellow graduates for helping him overcome his social and academic obstacles.

Alderman has mild autism and was attending private school in Northern Virginia until two years ago when his mother, Hazel Robinson, decided the school was too easy for him.