The Life Of Helen Keller

1. The Life Of Helen Keller • By: Katie Bridges • ETE 100-Online Section • September 29, 2005

2. About Helen • Named Helen Adams Keller • Born June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama • Daughter of Captain Arthur Henley Keller and Kate Adams Keller • Was born with full sight and hearing

3. A Change For The Worse • February 1882, when Helen was 19 months old, she fell ill • Doctors called it “brain fever” otherwise known today as scarlet fever or meningitis • For many days, she was expected to die • When the fever went away, her family thought she was in the clear

4. A Change For The Worse (Cont) • Her mother noticed that Helen was not responding to the dinner bell when rung • Also, she was responding to her mother’s hand passing in front of her eyes • Helen’s illness left her blind and deaf

5. Help For Helen • Helen’s mother took her to a specialist doctor in Baltimore who suggested that they meet with Alexander Graham Bell • Alexander Graham Bell was the local expert on the problems of children who are deaf • Bell told the Keller family to write Michael Anagnos-director of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind

6. Helen & Alexander Graham Bell

7. Help For Helen (Cont) • The Keller’s asked Anagnos to help find a teacher for Helen • He immediately recommended Anne Sullivan who was a former student of the institution

8. Helen Meets Anne • Met for the first time on March 3, 1887 • Starting teaching Helen immediately • She spelled out the word “doll” on Helen’s hand to help her recognize what Anne had brought for Helen • Helen could repeat the movements on her hand, but didn’t know what they meant

9. A Picture of Anne Sullivan

10. Starting To Make Sense • Anne took Helen down a path to a well-house • Someone was pumping water and Anne put Helen’s hand under the water • Anne immediately spelled out “water” over and over on Helen’s hand • Helen make the connection between the word “water” and the flowing liquid

11. The Learning Never Stops • Helen learned the spelling of 30 words within the next few hours after the water • Learned to understand what others were saying by touching their lips and throat • Helen could not speak due to her vocal chords not being trained prior to being taught how to speak

12. Helen Reading Lips • Helen reading Mrs. Calvin Coolidge’s lips with her hand

13. Helen Goes To College • Helen was the first person who was blind and deaf to ever enter an institution of higher learning • She enrolled in the fall of 1900 • She was the first person was was blind and deaf to earn a bachelor of Arts degree • Helen graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College on June 28, 1904

14. Helen’s Graduation Picture

15. Helen’s Publications • 1903-Helen’s first book The Story of My Life • 1913-Out of the Dark-series of essays on socialism • 1955-Teacher-book about Anne Sullivan

16. Helen’s Contribution to Society • Had fundraising tours for the American Foundation for the Blind • After World War II, Helen traveled the world fundraising for the American Foundation for the Overseas Blind • Campaigned to help with the living and working conditions for people who were blind

17. Awards For Helen • Was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson • 1965-At the New York World’s Fair, she was elected to Women’s Hall of Fame

18. The End of Helen’s Life • Helen died on June 1, 1968 in Arcan Ridge at the age of 87 • She died peacefully in her sleep • Her lifelong dream was to be able to talk, something she never got to master in life

19. Helen’s Obituary Picture

20. Bibliography • http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c11000/3c11700/3c11738v.jpg • http://www.afb.org/braillebug/helen_keller_bio.asp • http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/legacies/AL/200002670.html • http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/6027.html • http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/doucuments/publicwebsite/public_keller.hcsp