Helen Keller

Helen Keller

Introduction Imagine not being able to see or hear. How would you learn about the world around you? How would you learn to communicate? You would face many serious challenges, wouldn't you?

These are the challenges Helen Keller faced more than 100 years ago. When she was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Helen could see and hear. When she was 19 months old, she became ill and had a very high fever. She survived her illness, but the fever left her blind and deaf. With time and teaching, Helen Keller would overcome her disabilities and become an inspiration to many people.

Helen's Early Years At the time when Helen was a small girl, people didn't know much about disabilities. Not many teachers had tried to educate people who were both deaf and blind. Only a few children like Helen around the world had learned to communicate. Helen and her parents tried to work with her disabilities. Helen did not have rules to follow. At times she seemed out of control. Her parents had little hope that Helen would lead the kind of life they had imagined she would.

Helen Gets a Teacher Helen's parents grew more and more frustrated. A friend of Helen's parents, Alexander Graham Bell, the man who invented the telephone, had an idea. When Helen was about 7 years old, he suggested they hire a young woman to teach Helen. The young woman's name was Anne Sullivan. Helen's parents agreed to give it a try. From that day on, Helen's life changed.

At first, Helen did not like Anne. Anne made Helen do things she didn't want to do. Anne made Helen eat from a plate, pick up after herself, and dress herself. Helen fought her, but Anne kept trying.