Overview
This lecture covers the life and achievements of Helen Keller, an American author and educator who overcame being both blind and deaf, as well as the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Helen Keller: Early Life and Disability
- Born June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama.
- Became blind and deaf at 19 months due to illness, possibly scarlet fever.
- Examined by Alexander Graham Bell at age six, leading to her connection with teacher Anne Sullivan.
Education and Learning Methods
- Anne Sullivan began teaching Keller in March 1887 and remained her companion until 1936.
- Learned to communicate via finger signals on her palm and reading raised words on cardboard.
- Mastered Braille at Perkins Institution and learned to speak under Sarah Fuller.
- Used tactile lip reading by feeling speakers’ lips and throats.
- Attended Wright-Humason School for the Deaf, Cambridge School for Young Ladies, and graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1904.
Achievements and Impact
- First person with Keller’s disabilities to attain such educational and communicative skills.
- Wrote several books about her experiences, including The Story of My Life.
- Lectured worldwide for the American Foundation for the Blind, establishing a $2 million endowment.
- Co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1920.
- Advocated for the deaf and blind, helping to close asylums and promote better treatment and education.
Cultural Influence and Legacy
- Subject of William Gibson’s play The Miracle Worker, which won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into a film.
- Keller’s advocacy shifted public perceptions of disabilities globally.
- Maintained activism and public presence until her death on June 1, 1968, in Connecticut.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Signed into law on July 26, 1990, providing civil rights protections to people with disabilities.
- Ensured equal opportunities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, government services, and telecommunications.
- Led to significant Supreme Court cases shaping the definition and application of "disability."
- The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 expanded the law’s protections.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Braille — A tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired.
- Cum laude — With honor; an academic distinction upon graduation.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — U.S. law granting equal rights to people with disabilities.
- Anne Sullivan — Helen Keller’s lifelong teacher and companion.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Keller’s major works, especially The Story of My Life.
- Study the main provisions and historical significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Research other figures who contributed to disability rights.