Helen Keller was an extraordinary American author, activist and lecturer. Born in 1880, she became blind and deaf for only 19 months due to illness. This catastrophic loss separated her from the world, which made the conversation almost impossible.
When his parents kept a significant teacher, N Sullivan, his life changed dramatically at the age of six. Annie taught Helen to communicate with spell words in her hand. This progress allowed Helen to join the world and burn his passion for his education.
Helen Redcliff graduated from the college leg, which is a true monument given its disability. She dedicated her life to advocating for disabled people, becoming a powerful voice for equality and accessibility in sexuality.
Its work inspired millions of people globally, proving that courage and determination can eliminate immense challenges. Helen Keller is a symbol of hope and elasticity, celebrated for her intelligence, spirit and uninterrupted commitment to make a difference.
Who Was Helen Keller?
Source: Library of America
Helen Keller was an extraordinary American who surpassed the amazing challenges to become an author, activist, and a world-renowned teacher. Born in 1880, she suffered a disease at the age of 19 months that left her blind and deaf.
This deep loss of vision and hearing isolated it, making communication extremely difficult in its early years. His life took a transformative turn at the age of six when his parents hired Anne Sullivan, a talented teacher.
Anne taught Helen to communicate spelling words in her hand, famously starting with "W-A-T-E-R" in a bomb. This advance opened the world of language and learning, Helen. Despite his shortcomings, Helen showed remarkable intelligence and perseverance.
Early Life
Helen Adams Keller was born a healthy child in Tuscumbia, Alabama, on June 27, 1880. Her parents were Kate Adams Keller and Colonel Arthur Keller.
On her father's side, she was descended from Colonel Alexander Spottswood, a colonial governor of Virginia, and on her mother's side, she was related to a number of prominent New England families.
Helen's father, Arthur Keller, was a captain in the Confederate army. The family lost most of its wealth during the Civil War and lived modestly.
After the war, Captain Keller edited a local newspaper, the North Alabamian, and in 1885, under the Cleveland administration, he was appointed Marshal of North Alabama.
At the age of 19 months, Helen became deaf and blind as a result of an unknown illness, perhaps rubella or scarlet fever. As Helen grew from infancy into childhood, she became wild and unruly.
Education
Helen Keller's formal education began after her life-changing encounter with Anne Sullivan in 1887. Anne taught Helen to communicate by spelling words into her hand.
This initial breakthrough at the water pump, where Helen connected the finger-spelt word "water" with the physical sensation, was the foundation of her learning. She quickly learnt the manual alphabet and Braille.
Specialised Schools
To further her education, Helen attended several specialised schools. In May 1888, she enrolled at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston, where she learnt Braille and how to write using a special typewriter.
Later, in 1894, she moved to New York City to attend the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf to improve her speaking ability.
She also studied at the Horace Mann School for the Deaf during this period. In 1896, she returned to Massachusetts and entered the Cambridge School for Young Ladies to prepare for college.
Radcliffe College
A monumental achievement in her educational journey was her admission to Radcliffe College in 1900. With Anne Sullivan by her side, who interpreted lectures by spelling into her hand, Helen persevered through her studies. In 1904, she graduated cum laude (with honours) from Radcliffe, becoming the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Career
Even before graduating from college, Helen Keller began his prolific literary career. His autobiography, "The Story of My Life", was published in 1903 and became an immediate success, translated into 50 languages.
She wrote more than a dozen books and hundreds of articles throughout her life, using her writings to share her experiences and defend her beliefs. Other notable works include "Optimism" (1903) and "The World I Live In" (1908).
Activism and Advocacy
Helen Keller dedicated her adult life to social and political activism. She has become a passionate defender of people with disabilities, defending their rights to education and job opportunities.
She was a prominent teacher, travelling to 35 countries on five continents, where she talked to the public and met world leaders, raising millions of dollars for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), where she worked for 44 years.
Other Causes
In addition to disability rights, Helen Keller was a vocal defender of other progressive causes. She was a suffragist, defending women's right to vote. She embraced socialism and defended workers' rights.
She was also an initial and active member of the American Union of Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which she co-founded in 1920. Her tireless efforts influenced policies and perceptions, leaving an indelible mark on humanitarian causes around the world.
Awards & Honours
Among her most significant recognitions was the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, which she received in 1964 from President Lyndon B. Johnson. This symbolised the nation's profound respect for her contributions.
Internationally, Keller was also highly esteemed. She was awarded the French Legion of Honour (Chevalier) in 1952, a prestigious recognition from France.
She also received the Lions Humanitarian Award in 1961, given for her instrumental role in inspiring Lions Clubs International to dedicate themselves to sight conservation and aid for the blind.
Her intellectual achievements were recognised with numerous honorary university degrees from institutions around the world, including Harvard University and Temple University in the United States, as well as the University of Glasgow in Scotland, the University of Berlin in Germany, Delhi University in India, and Witwatersrand University in South Africa.
Posthumously continued Helen Keller was honoured. She was brought into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame in 2015.
She even received an honorary radiation award in 1955 for the documentary about her life, "Helen Keller in Her Story". These prizes collectively emphasise Helen Keller's permanent inheritance as a symbol of endurance, a spokesman and the boundless potential of the human spirit.
