Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist, and lecturer. She was born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, in 1880 and lost her sight and hearing after an illness when she was 19 months old. She communicated primarily using home signs until the age of seven, when she met her first teacher and lifelong companion, Anne Sullivan, who taught her language, including reading and writing. Keller was a remarkable author and educator who overcame deafness and blindness, inspired the world with her resilience, and advocated for disability rights. She wrote several books about her life, including "The Story of My Life," "Optimism," "The World I Live In," and "The Open Door". Keller was also an advocate for people with disabilities, womens suffrage, labor rights, and world peace. She traveled to 25 different countries giving motivational speeches about deaf people's rights. Some of her notable accomplishments include:
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First person with deafblindness to earn a college degree: Keller graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1904 with a Bachelor's Degree.
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Influential and respected figure: In 1999, her name appeared on Time magazine's list of the 100 most important figures of the 20th century, alongside such iconic figures as Albert Einstein, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Mahatma Gandhi.
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Advocate for disability rights: Keller was a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities and worked with the American Foundation for the Blind to improve the lives of blind and visually impaired people.
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Author and lecturer: Keller was a prolific writer and speaker, and she traveled extensively to share her message of hope and perseverance.
