Helen Keller is a remarkable example of perseverance and optimism. Born in 1880 in Alabama, she lost both her sight and hearing at just 19 months old due to an illness now thought to have been scarlet fever or meningitis. After a difficult few early years, Keller was introduced to a teacher, Anne Sullivan, who taught her to communicate through hand signals, reading and writing braille, and even speech. 

Keller’s pivotal experience with Sullivan set her on an unparalleled path. She graduated from Radcliffe College with distinction in 1904, and wrote extensively of her life in magazine articles and books, including The Story of My Life (1903), which eventually became a classic of American literature. She also became an uncompromising advocate for marginalized people, championing causes including disability rights, women’s suffrage, and labor reform, and helping form the American Civil Liberties Union. Her determination reshaped perceptions of disability and left a legacy that continues to awe and inspire long after her death in 1968.