Helen Keller

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated June 12, 2025
While there have been many notable individuals who were blind, Helen Keller remains one of the most recognized and inspirational figures in the history of disability advocacy. Although many are familiar with the story of her early childhood, fewer know about the significant contributions she made throughout her life to the field of blindness, education, and civil rights. ​

​Early Life and Illness

Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She was born with full sight and hearing, but at just 19 months old, she contracted an illness—likely scarlet fever or meningitis—that left her deaf and blind. The family described the illness as “an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain.”
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Helen's mother had heard of Laura Bridgman, another woman who was deafblind and had been successfully educated at the Perkins Institute for the Blind. Seeking similar help for Helen, the Kellers consulted Dr. J. Julian Chisolm, who referred them to Alexander Graham Bell, a noted advocate for the deaf. Bell then connected the family with Perkins, where the school’s director, Michael Anagnos, recommended a young teacher—Anne Sullivan, a former student of the school. 

The Miracle Begins

Anne Sullivan arrived at the Keller home in March 1887, and began working intensively with Helen. Through patient instruction and a breakthrough moment at a water pump, Anne helped Helen associate objects with spelled-out words on her hand. This marked the beginning of Helen’s understanding of language and was later dramatized in the play and film The Miracle Worker, based on her autobiography The Story of My Life. 

Education and Academic Achievements

Helen attended the Perkins Institute for the Blind beginning in 1888. However, her early education was not without controversy. In 1891, after submitting a story called The Frost King as a gift to Anagnos, she was accused of plagiarism because of its resemblance to a previously published story. Though this incident was distressing, Helen continued her education undeterred.

She later attended the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf and the Horace Mann School for the Deaf in New York, followed by the Cambridge School for Young Ladies in Massachusetts. In 1904, she graduated with honors from Radcliffe College, becoming the first person who was both deaf and blind to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Helen learned to speak and gave lectures around the world. She communicated by reading lips with her hands, using braille, and interpreting manual sign language.

​Advocacy and Impact

After college, Helen Keller became a world-renowned speaker, author, and humanitarian. While some of her religious and political beliefs—such as her support of socialism and her interest in Swedenborgian mysticism—are not universally embraced, her lifelong advocacy for people with disabilities remains widely respected.

Keller worked tirelessly to promote the rights and dignity of people who are blind. She helped raise awareness of blindness and promoted preventative measures, such as public health initiatives and early childhood screenings. She also lobbied for legislative change and worked to shift public attitudes away from viewing people with disabilities as helpless.
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She was a long-time supporter and fundraiser for the American Foundation for the Blind, and in 1915, she co-founded Helen Keller International, an organization that continues to work globally in the areas of vision, health, and nutrition. She also played a role in founding the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and was active in advocating for women's rights, disability rights, and broader humanitarian causes.

​A Life of Influence

Helen Keller met every U.S. president from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon B. Johnson, and traveled to over 35 countries to advocate for people with disabilities. Her legacy continues to inspire educators, advocates, and students around the world. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 1, 1968, at her home in Easton, Connecticut, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance, advocacy, and enduring impact on the field of visual impairments.

​Learn More About Helen Keller

​Helen Keller remains one of the most inspirational figures in history. Her life story continues to impact how society understands disability, education, and advocacy. If you'd like to explore more about Helen Keller’s legacy and contributions, the following resources and materials are a great place to start.

Helen Keller International

Helen Keller International is a nonprofit organization founded by Helen Keller in 1915. It is dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the world’s most vulnerable populations. The organization fights the causes and consequences of preventable blindness and malnutrition by creating programs grounded in research, evidence, and community partnership. Their work continues Helen Keller’s legacy of global advocacy for vision, health, and nutrition. Website: www.hki.org 

Autobiographies by Helen Keller

​Helen Keller wrote several autobiographical works that offer deep insight into her experiences and philosophy:

Books About Helen Keller

​Here are some biographies and stories about Helen Keller, many suitable for children and young readers:

Picture Books and Beginning Readers

Middle-Grade Biographies

  • Davidson, Margaret. Helen Keller. This bestselling biography of Helen Keller tells how, with the commitment and lifelong friendship of Anne Sullivan, she learned to talk, read, and eventually graduate from college with honors.
  • Graff, Stewart. Helen Keller (Young Yearling Book). This biography of Helen Keller is written for children ages 8 to 12. Like others, it tells the story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan.
  • Norwich, Grace. I Am: Helen Keller. This biography is part of a series featuring important people from history. This biography tells of Helen's accomplishments and features illustrations, a timeline, maps, sidebars and a top ten list of important things to know about Helen Keller.
  • Thompson, Gare. Who Was Helen Keller. Grosset & Dunlap, 2003. This book tells the story of Helen Keller. This illustrated biography is perfect for young middle-grade readers. It includes line drawings and sidebars on related topics such as Louis Braille.

Upper Elementary to Middle School Readers

  • Garrett, Leslie. Helen Keller: A photographic story of a life. This biography of Helen Keller provides full-color photographs of Helen, as well as places, artifacts, definitions of key words and sidebars on related subjects.
  • Lawlor, Laurie. Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit. This biography of Helen Keller is written for children ages 10 and up. Like other biographies, it tells the familiar story of Helen Keller. However, Lawlor also includes lesser known information about Keller's life and views giving the reader more insight into her character.

Helen Keller Display at the APH Museum

If you are looking for a meaningful field trip or educational travel experience, consider visiting the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. The museum features a Helen Keller display that includes:
  • Helen Keller’s personal Bible
  • Her writing desk
  • Artifacts related to her education and advocacy
Website: www.aph.org/museum
Helen Keller display that includes her personal bible, plaque, photos, and writings
The Helen Keller display at the APH museum that includes her personal bible, plaque, photos, and writings.
Helen Keller display that features her writing desk and a large photo of Helen Keller at her desk.
Helen Keller display that features her writing desk and a large photo of Helen Keller at her desk.

Visit Helen Keller’s Birthplace

300 N Commons St W, Tuscumbia, AL 35674​
Website: ​Helen Keller’s Birthplace
Ivy Green offers a profound glimpse into the life of one of America's most inspiring figures. Each summer, the estate hosts outdoor performances of William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker, dramatizing the breakthrough moment between Helen and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, at the very site where it occurred.

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