Imagine that you couldn’t see the words written here, or hear them spoken. Being both blind and deaf is a major obstacle for any human to overcome. However, one noteworthy woman overcame such odds, her name was Helen Keller. She was born in 1880, in a small farm town. At a young age, Helen was extremely ill, and lost both her vision and hearing. This change didn’t just obscure Helen’s vision and hearing. She had no way to observe life. She got very frustrated and would not obey her parents. Helen’s parents were anything but numb to Helen’s suffering. Hoping for a miracle to occur, they hired a tutor named Anne Sullivan. Anne was notorious for her stubborn, but was an excellent teacher.
Anne was strict, and Helen was an obstinate student, and could be quite a nuisance. Fortunately Anne had a lot of energy and would not oblige Helen’s tantrums. In just a few days, she taught Helen how to spell words with her hands. The trouble was, Helen didn’t understand what the words meant-until one occasion at the water pump. Anne had an idea. Anne had Helen hold one hand under the water. Then she spelled “W-A-T-E-R” into Helen’s other hand. Helen understood that the word represented an object! Helen’s brain flew; that day, she learned 30 words.
From then on, Helen’s mind raced ahead. Helen worked hard to nourish her mind. She started to obsess about learning. Seeking further mental nutrition, she learned to read French, German, Greek, and Latin in Braille! Her disabilities notwithstanding, she entered Radcliff College, the women’s branch of Harvard
University. She wrote a novel based on her life which was translated into 50 languages. Helen would occupy her time by giving speeches, and raising money for the American Foundation for the Blind. From 1946 and 1957, she went around the world, speaking about the experiences and rights of people who are blind, visiting 39 countries! She wanted people to notice and obligate them to help her achieve her goal. She wanted to make any prejudice and discrimination (which can obstruct the goals of disabled people) become obsolete. Helen also inspired many works of art, including two Oscar-winning movies, and received dozens of awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that an American civilian can receive. She died in her sleep in 1968. Helen became an exceptional leader, who taught the world to respect people who are blind and deaf.
Anne was strict, and Helen was an obstinate student, and could be quite a nuisance. Fortunately Anne had a lot of energy and would not oblige Helen’s tantrums. In just a few days, she taught Helen how to spell words with her hands. The trouble was, Helen didn’t understand what the words meant-until one occasion at the water pump. Anne had an idea. Anne had Helen hold one hand under the water. Then she spelled “W-A-T-E-R” into Helen’s other hand. Helen understood that the word represented an object! Helen’s brain flew; that day, she learned 30 words.
From then on, Helen’s mind raced ahead. Helen worked hard to nourish her mind. She started to obsess about learning. Seeking further mental nutrition, she learned to read French, German, Greek, and Latin in Braille! Her disabilities notwithstanding, she entered Radcliff College, the women’s branch of Harvard
University. She wrote a novel based on her life which was translated into 50 languages. Helen would occupy her time by giving speeches, and raising money for the American Foundation for the Blind. From 1946 and 1957, she went around the world, speaking about the experiences and rights of people who are blind, visiting 39 countries! She wanted people to notice and obligate them to help her achieve her goal. She wanted to make any prejudice and discrimination (which can obstruct the goals of disabled people) become obsolete. Helen also inspired many works of art, including two Oscar-winning movies, and received dozens of awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that an American civilian can receive. She died in her sleep in 1968. Helen became an exceptional leader, who taught the world to respect people who are blind and deaf.