Transcription
Helen Keller1880-1968
Early Life Helen Keller was born in June of 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama Although she had been born hearing, when she was 19 months old a high fever left HelenBlind and DeafWhile she was growing up, Keller’s parents indulged her, leading to herbeing a disobedient child. This was added to by her lack of the ability tocommunicate, causing her to become frustrated and have manyoutbursts.In 1887, Anne Sullivan entered Keller’s life as her teacher. Anne was able to break through Helen’s barriers by teaching her fingerspelling inAmerican Sign Language. It is said that Helen was feeling water through her fingers in onehand while Anne was fingerspelling the word W-A-T-E-R in the other and things clicked.
Expanding Knowledge After Helen soaked in information to communicate full sentences usingthe hand alphabet, she tackled the task of learning Braille, a languageconsisting of raised dots that one can read by feeling.Keller also successfully learned speech, along with becoming anaccomplished typist.Through all of her studies, including Helen attending the Ivy Leagueschool Radcliff, Anne Sullivan was there. Helen became the first Deaf-Blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree
Leaving an Impact After graduating in 1904, Keller became a world traveler, lecturing,writing, fundraising and raising awareness about issues concerning thedisabled, poor and oppressed. She also visited wounded soldiers from World War II, encouraging those who lost theirsight in battle to recognize that they could still live a full life.Keller was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is justone example of the recognition she received for her efforts to improvethe world around her.
Lesser Known Facts about Helen Keller Helen came to know other renownedindividuals like author Mark Twain andinventor Alexander Graham Bell, andexchanged letters with several U.S.Presidents. Famous people were in her family aswell; Helen’s mother was related to JohnAdams, a founding father and secondU.S. President, and her GrandmotherKeller was General Robert E. Lee’ssecond cousin.One of Helen’s Swiss ancestors was thefirst to teach the Deaf in Zurich andauthored a book on the subject. Helen was also the person whointroduced the Akita dog to the U.S. After being gifted an akita by a Japanesepolice officer, she returned home withone, introducing them to the U.S, andthen being gifted a second from thesame litter upon the first’s death.
Lesser Known Facts continued After Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller hitthe stage for performances in the 1920s,Helen was billed as the “8th Wonder ofthe World.”Helen also penned several books: One of her earliest works was anautobiography, The Story of My Life,which she wrote while studying atRadcliff.Teacher is a nickname Helen gave AnneSullivan, and is also the title of a bookshe wrote in Anne’s honor.Firsthand observation on Helen’s life canbe found in a travel journal and lettersthat are still in publication today.
The End of Her LifeIn 1968, just short of her 88th birthday, Helen Keller died in her sleep ofnatural causes. Helen left a huge impact on the world, and left the world withso many ideas.“True education combines intellect, beauty, goodness, and the greatest of thesegoodness.”“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.”“We all have limitations of one kind or another. The only difference is in the way wemeet them with lifted head and smiling face.”
SourcesAmerican Foundation for the Blind Web inary People With Disabilities by Deborah Hent & Kathryn A. QuinlanI Am Helen Keller by Grace NorwichPerkins School for the Blind Web site: http://www.perkins.orgThe Story of My Life by Helen KellerTo Love This Life: Quotations by Helen Keller
After Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller hit the stage for performances in the 1920s, Helen was billed as the “8th Wonder of the World.” Helen also penned several books: One of her earliest works was an autobiography, The Story of My Life, which she wrote while studying at Radcli
