I think that most people have heard of Helen Keller. I first heard a little about her when I was at school, and it is an interesting story.
Helen Keller was an American author, activist on disability rights as well as being one of the most known deafblind people in history
Helen Keller was born on 27th June 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She lost both her sight and her hearing following a bout of illness when she was only 19 months old.
At first Helen developed her own sign language to talk to her family. She could also recognise her family by the vibration of their footsteps.
Helen described her deafblindess as ‘living at sea in a dense fog’
At the age of seven she met her first teacher who became her lifelong friend, Anne Sullivan. Sullivan taught Keller language including reading and writing. Sullivan would spell words into Helen’s hands and slowly, she started to associate objects with words.
Helen was determined to communicate as conventionally as possible and incredibly, she learned to speak. She listened to other people talking by placing her hands on their lips and throats to identify the movements. I believe that this method of communication is known as Tadoma, which is also described as tactile lip reading.
Helen was educated at both mainstream and specialist schools before attending the Radcliffe College at Harvard University. She became the first deafblind person in the United States to earn a Batchelor of Arts Degree.
Prior to obtaining her degree Hellen had written her autobiography ‘The Story of My Life’ which was published in 1903 which told the story of her education and life with Anne Sullivan.
Her book was adapted as a play by William Gibson. The play was first produced on Broadway in 1959 and was subsequently made into a film which was released in 1962. Both the play and the film were called ‘The Miracle Worker’ and told the story of Helen’s childhood education, guided by Anne Sullivan.
In November 2000 Helen’s life story was staged as a musical just called ‘Hellen Keller! The Musical’
In 1918 Keller made a movie called ‘Deliverance’ which dramatized the plight of the blind.
We should remember that the rights of Blind People were also making the headlines in the UK with the march of Blind Workers in 1920 to demand better pay and working conditions. This led to the Blind Person Act becoming law later that year
Helen Keller became a prolific author writing a total of 14 books as well as hundreds of speeches and essays on a wide range of topics including writing about blindness and deafness. Helen was a political activist and a champion for the rights of disabled people who was a founder member of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920. Keller also campaigned for women’s suffrage, labour rights and world peace.
Helen Keller was also an active supporter of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) which was created in 1921. Keller helped to raise the AFB’s profile when she started working for them in 1924. In addition to serving as AFB’s counsellor on national and international relations, she made countless speeches and appearances both in the USA and in more than 39 countries around the world on behalf of the AFB advocating for people who were deaf and blind. She remained active until her death in 1968.
I understand that Keller’s philosophy promoted the idea that people with disabilities should be recognised as individuals first and foremost. Her ideas became central to the disability rights movement.
It can be argued that Keller’s work changed the political and social landscape of disability through helping to both challenge and change attitudes. Helen Keller was not only a disability campaigner, she was also a role model to many. Her name became identified with or synonymous with inclusion and representation for people with disabilities.
Did you know that in 1946 Helen Keller flew a plane over the Mediterranean sea? Keller and a companion travelled to Europe to speak on behalf of the American Foundation for the Overseas Blind. It was during this flight that Keller took control of the plane. Interviews with the pilot and crew reveal an incredibly confident woman flying a plane "steadily and calmly."
Did you know that in 1953 Helen Keller was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize to recognise the international importance of her work for deaf and blind people?
Helen Keller received the French Legion of Honour in 1952. In 1964 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon B Johnson. In 1965 she was one of twenty women elected to the Women’s Hall of Fame.
In 1955 Helen Keller was awarded an honorary Oscar for the 1954 documentary film about her life called ‘Helen Keller in her story’. The film was written and directed by Nancy Hamilton and used archival newsreel clips and photos to trace Keller’s early years.
Helen was awarded a number of honorary degrees from universities including an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Glasgow which was presented to her in person on 2nd June 1932
Helen Keller died on 1st June 1968 at the age of 87
Timeline of some of the important dates in the life of Helen Keller
1880 Born Alabama | 1920 Helped found American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) |
1887 Met teacher Anne Sullivan | 1932 - Helen Keller was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree by the University of Glasgow which was presented in person to her on 2nd June 1932 |
1888 Perkins Institute for the Blind | 1946 - Helen Keller flew a plane. |
1894 William Wade Finishing School | 1952 - Helen Keller received the French Legion of Honour |
1896 Cambridge School for the Deaf | 1953 - Helen Keller was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize to recognise the international importance of her work for deaf and blind people. |
1900 Radcliffe College, Harvard University | 1955 - Helen Keller was awarded an Honorary Oscar for the documentary film about her life called 'Helen Keller in her story' |
1903 "The Story of My Life" published | 1959 - her book 'The story of my life' was adapted as a play by William Gibson and was first produced on Broadway in 1959 with the title of 'The Miracle Worker' |
1904 First Deafblind person to earn BA from Radcliffe College, Harvard | 1962 - The film also called 'The Miracle Worker' was released |
1908 Socialist Party of America. | 1964 Presidential Medal of Freedom |
1911 Industrial Workers of the World (WWI) | 1965 Elected to National Women's Hall of Fame |
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