Helen Keller

1880-1968

Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama in 1880. She became blind and deaf at 19 months after getting a really high fever. For many years, up until the age of six, Helen had many problems with communications and would often have violent temper tantrums. When she was seven, Anne Sullivan came to the Keller's as Helen's teacher. Anne taught Helen how to read, write and speak. Anne Sullivan was known as "Teacher" to Helen and a "Miracle Worker" to others. Helen Keller learned to communicate in many ways such as lip reading, Braille, sign language, finger-spelling (in the beginning of her education), typewriting, and speech. She later went on to graduate from Radcliffe College.  Helen Keller, as an adult, lectured and published vastly on her experiences as well as other subjects like politics and education. She promoted women's suffrage and socialism. She also raised funds for the American Foundation for the Blind. To this day, Helen Keller still remains a model of achievement among the severely disabled.   

Mrs. Helen Keller touching the speaker in order to "listen" to the radio (done by feeling the vibrations).