Helen Keller

 

Helen Keller became blind and deaf at 19 months after birth following a bout of sickness. Born in 1880 at Alabama USA, Keller grew up to become an advocate for people with disabilities, an author, a politician, amongst other things. She was friends with Mark Twain and other great people of her time.

Pivotal to Keller’s achievement is Anne Sullivan, her teacher and long time companion who taught Keller how to read and write. Later on she learned Braille and hand signs for communication.

Helen and Sullivan

On graduation from Radcliffe college of Harvard, Hellen Keller was the first blind-deaf woman who earned a degree from the school in 1904 at the age of 24.

Keller has many writings, the most popular of which is her autobiography - “the story of my life.” Because of her resilience, she wrote an open letter to Nazi youths who burned her writings before WWII. 

Today, Keller is not only an inspiration, she has been honored by the state of Alabama and other foreign countries on currency, foundations and most especially as an activist for the disabled.