Inspiring story of Helen Keller
“The most pathetic person in the world is some one who has sight but no vision.”
Who changed the world's view towards the physically challenged? The answer to this question is Helen Keller. What could a blind and deaf person possibly do? This Lady answered the question with her actions. She has been an inspiration ever since.
Helen Keller was an author, lecturer and most importantly a crusader for the handicapped.
Her story is that of a woman who overcame her handicap and proved what a blind and deaf person could do. It is also a story of how good mentoring can change lives. One of her quotes has inspired people to face life in time of adversity.
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”
Childhood
Helen was born on June 27, 1880. Her father Arthur Keller served as an Officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He later worked as an editor of a local newspaper. She was an above average child. She started speaking when she was 6 months old. However tragedy struck when she was just 19 months old. She fell ill. The nature of the sickness is not clear. She had very high fever which, according to some, may have been scarlet fever or meningitis. After this fever, her mother started noticing that Helen did not respond to the dinner bell. She also did not react when hand was waved in front of her face. The parents realized that she had lost sight and hearing.
The loss of both sight and hearing meant that there was very few ways to communicate. The only communication was through signs that she created along with her only companion, Martha who was the daughter of a cook in the house. At the same time she started throwing wild tantrums. She would scream and become unruly when angry and giggle when she was happy.
Association with Anne Sullivan
In 1886, her mother saw a ray of hope when she read American Notes by Charles Dickens. It contained a story of a successful education of a blind and deaf girl Laura Bridgman. Her father met Dr. J. Julian Chisolm who referred the parents to Alexander Graham Bell. He suggested Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston, Massachusetts. The director of the Institute, Michael Anaganos, suggested Anne Sullivan as a apt teacher for Helen.
Anne Sullivan went to the Keller's home in 1887 and started teaching Helen. She had a unique way of teaching Helen. She started teaching her finger spelling. The first word she taught her was 'doll'. Everything was fine at first but Helen started throwing tantrums again. Sullivan did not give up. At Sullivan's insisting, the teacher and pupil were isolated from the family so they would not interfere. She started teaching Helen once again. She taught her 'water' by spelling the word with her finger on one hand while she made her experience water with the other hand. Helen starting learning words fast with this method of experience.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”
Education
In 1980, Helen started learning speech. It was an immense struggle for a blind and deaf girl to learn speech. She however, overcame her handicap. It took her 25 long years but she improved her communications immensely.
Highlight of her education was when she attended college where Sullivan would interpret the lectures for her.
Activism
Helen Keller is known for her social work for the blind. She was also well known as a women activist. She was admired by well known people of the time like Mark Twain. She set up the Helen Keller Institute for Deaf and Blind with the help of George Kessler. Today, this institute has branches all over the world and is helping the blind and deaf overcome their obstacles.
Apart from the Institute, she is also known for her books including The story of my Life. This book is a must read for inspiration and motivation.
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart" - Helen Keller
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
Death
After a series of strokes and ill health, Helen Keller passed away on June 1, 1968. Her legacy lives on. Her story of overcoming odds has been an inspiration for millions.
“Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there's a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.”
“The most pathetic person in the world is some one who has sight but no vision.”
Who changed the world's view towards the physically challenged? The answer to this question is Helen Keller. What could a blind and deaf person possibly do? This Lady answered the question with her actions. She has been an inspiration ever since.
Helen Keller was an author, lecturer and most importantly a crusader for the handicapped.
Her story is that of a woman who overcame her handicap and proved what a blind and deaf person could do. It is also a story of how good mentoring can change lives. One of her quotes has inspired people to face life in time of adversity.
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”
Childhood
Helen was born on June 27, 1880. Her father Arthur Keller served as an Officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He later worked as an editor of a local newspaper. She was an above average child. She started speaking when she was 6 months old. However tragedy struck when she was just 19 months old. She fell ill. The nature of the sickness is not clear. She had very high fever which, according to some, may have been scarlet fever or meningitis. After this fever, her mother started noticing that Helen did not respond to the dinner bell. She also did not react when hand was waved in front of her face. The parents realized that she had lost sight and hearing.
The loss of both sight and hearing meant that there was very few ways to communicate. The only communication was through signs that she created along with her only companion, Martha who was the daughter of a cook in the house. At the same time she started throwing wild tantrums. She would scream and become unruly when angry and giggle when she was happy.
Association with Anne Sullivan
In 1886, her mother saw a ray of hope when she read American Notes by Charles Dickens. It contained a story of a successful education of a blind and deaf girl Laura Bridgman. Her father met Dr. J. Julian Chisolm who referred the parents to Alexander Graham Bell. He suggested Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston, Massachusetts. The director of the Institute, Michael Anaganos, suggested Anne Sullivan as a apt teacher for Helen.
Anne Sullivan went to the Keller's home in 1887 and started teaching Helen. She had a unique way of teaching Helen. She started teaching her finger spelling. The first word she taught her was 'doll'. Everything was fine at first but Helen started throwing tantrums again. Sullivan did not give up. At Sullivan's insisting, the teacher and pupil were isolated from the family so they would not interfere. She started teaching Helen once again. She taught her 'water' by spelling the word with her finger on one hand while she made her experience water with the other hand. Helen starting learning words fast with this method of experience.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”
Education
In 1980, Helen started learning speech. It was an immense struggle for a blind and deaf girl to learn speech. She however, overcame her handicap. It took her 25 long years but she improved her communications immensely.
Highlight of her education was when she attended college where Sullivan would interpret the lectures for her.
Activism
Helen Keller is known for her social work for the blind. She was also well known as a women activist. She was admired by well known people of the time like Mark Twain. She set up the Helen Keller Institute for Deaf and Blind with the help of George Kessler. Today, this institute has branches all over the world and is helping the blind and deaf overcome their obstacles.
Apart from the Institute, she is also known for her books including The story of my Life. This book is a must read for inspiration and motivation.
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart" - Helen Keller
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
Death
After a series of strokes and ill health, Helen Keller passed away on June 1, 1968. Her legacy lives on. Her story of overcoming odds has been an inspiration for millions.
“Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there's a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.”
