Helen Keller and the Miracle Worker
The Beginning of Darkness and Silence
Helen Keller entered the world in Alabama United States during 1880. The illness she contracted at the age of 19 months drove her towards both deafness and blindness. The inability to communicate by seeing or hearing caused Helen to feel both frustrated and isolated in her daily life.
The Arrival of Anne Sullivan
At age six Helen’s parents approached experts to find a teacher and Anne Sullivan emerged as the determined educator who also faced partial blindness. Helen found Anne who endured partial blindness to become Helen’s permanent teacher and close friend.
The Breakthrough Moment
Anne employed tactile learning through word spelling which helped Helen understand word-object relationships by touching her hands. Helen did not grasp the information during the beginning until the defining moment at the water pump occurred. Anne conducted the spelling of 'W-A-T-E-R' into Helen's hand beneath running water. During this moment Helen understood that spoken words possess actual meanings. Within a short time she learned a hundred words before mastering Braille together with speech and penmanship.
Helen’s Achievements
Guidance from Anne enabled Helen Keller to pursue extraordinary feats in her life.
Helen achieved a remarkable first when she became the initial deaf-blind person who graduated from Radcliffe College in 1904.
Her activism made her a well-known author who also functioned as an activist while becoming a lecturer dedicated to education and disability rights.
Millions of people found inspiration through the story of her life that she wrote down in "The Story of My Life."
The Legacy
Through her life story Helen Keller demonstrates education and determination along with inspirational teachers as key to her success. Education shows how knowledge breaks down obstacles to bring positive life changes even when situations appear challenging.