Helen Keller [1880-1968] was a deaf and blind author, political activist, and teacher. Keller lost her vision at a very young age and was frustrated about being unable to communicate with her family, as a child she would lash out at others and would frequently go into fits of rage. Her parents sent her to the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston, and there Keller would learn to communicate. Keller learned how to read, write, and speak while at Perkins. There she would meet Annie Sullivan, who would stay by Keller’s side for over 50 years. Keller went to Radcliffe College for women at the age of sixteen and graduated with honors- she was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts. She would later become an author, publishing many autobiographical works. Keller would also be known for her activism for people with disabilities. Keller proves to us today that disabilities do not measure intelligence.
