'' The mystery was revealed to me. I then
knew that 'w-a-t-e-r' meant the wonderful cool something that
was flowing over my hand. That living word awakened my soul,
gave it light, joy, set it free!!!!!.''
(Rare!) Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan (1930 Newsreel Footage)
Helen Keller was a very bright, sensitive, and
determined woman. The most remarkable thing about her was that
even though she had two disabilities, she never gave up and
lived a very successful life. She dedicated her life to
helping people, and her greatest achievement was proving to
the world that even with disabilities, anyone can achieve his
or her dreams.
Helen was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, on July 27, 1880. She
was a bright and healthy child, but at the age of 19 months
she became very ill and almost died. Luckily, she survived,
but her life was changed forever- she was blind and deaf. Her
disabilities seemed to cut her off from the world forever.
Without a sight or sound, how could she communicate and learn?
Soon, she forgot the words she had learned as a toddler. She
became very frustrated trying to speak and be understood.
Since her family spoiled her because they felt sorry for her,
she would throw tantrums to get her way and eventually grew
wild. Helen never brushed her hair, threw objects, walked
around eating off people's plates, and even locked her mother
in the pantry. At the age of seven, Helen's family was
desperate for help and hired Anne Sullivan as a private tutor.
She was a teacher at the Perkins School for the Blind in
Boston. "Teacher," as Helen called her, got her under control,
taught her and helped her to understand how to communicate
with her fingers. Helen attended Perkins School for the Blind
with Anne, where she learned quickly and had an exceptional
memory for details. It was there where she was known as
"Miracle Child." She later graduated from Radcliffe College in
1904 with honors. She spent the rest of her life traveling the
world and lecturing and raising money for the handicapped. She
wrote a book about her life, and the play "The Miracle Worker"
by William Gibson, won the Pulitzer Prize and was later a
movie. On June 1, 1968, she died at the age of 87 while
napping.
Helen Keller was an inspiration to everyone, with or without
disabilities. She will always be remembered as a hero to many
people throughout the world bringing light and hope to
everyone.
