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10 Amazing Facts About Hellen Keller

Helen Keller was a remarkable woman who dared to challenge all odds to become one of history’s most famous and influential figures. She was born in Alabama in 1880, and at the age of 19 months, she lost both her sight and hearing. Despite these obstacles, Keller went on to become a well-known author, lecturer, and political activist for women’s and people with disabilities’ rights.

After losing her sight, she was taught by Anne Sullivan who became a life-long companion how to read and write later she attended Radcliffe College of Harvard University where she was the first deafblind person to get a bachelor’s degree in Arts. She is said to have written a total of 12 books and hundreds of speeches and essays. She was a campaigner for those with disabilities, labor rights, and world peace and traveled in 25 countries to motivate and give a speech about deaf-blind people. She passed on 1st June 1968.
In this article, we will look at ten incredible facts about Helen Keller that demonstrate her incredible perseverance, intelligence, and impact on the world.

1. The first deaf-blind person to graduate from college in the United States

After Keller became deaf-blind, Anne Sullivan came in and taught her to read and write which was the foundation for her to join other big learning institutions like a university. For four years she schooled in Perkins School for the blind, later she joined Cambridge School for Young Ladies where she prepared to join Radcliffe College.

While at Radcliffe College she studied history and economics as well as foreign languages. It is recorded that she enjoyed her learning and she was an Avid reader. In 1904, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree becoming the first deafblind person to graduate.

2. She was an advocate for women’s rights, labor rights, and the civil rights of disabled people

Keller was an internationally known advocate who fought for the rights of the minority. However much she was disabled that did not hinder her from addressing what she felt was right. She was proof that disability is not inability.

She was a key advocate of women’s rights, she spoke out on gender equality and that whatever men were called to do, females’ too deserved a position. She fought for people with disability that they too deserved to be educated and also given jobs that were equal to those of able-bodied people.

 She also fought against children’s labor. All children deserve equal treatment and all basic needs without torturing them into a lot of work. She as well fought for people to have fairness in voting and that every person who was at age of voting deserved to be given a chance to cast a vote.

3. She has published about 14 books and several other articles

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Keller was a prolific writer, having written 14 books and numerous articles. She did, however, publish articles and books on a variety of subjects, including her autobiography and Christian books, as well as political aspects because she was a political activist. Keller wrote The Frost King when she was 11 years old, and it later received criticism for allegedly plagiarizing from someone else’s story. Her first article was published in 1907, and it mainly stated that cases of childhood blindness could be avoided by disinfecting the eyes of newborns.

4. Keller was awarded numerous honors and awards throughout her life

Due to her Humanitarian efforts, she received numerous awards throughout her life. However, in 1964 she was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by Lyndon B. Johnson which was the highest American Honor. She not only also received the Alumnae Achievement Award during the 50th anniversary of her graduation from Radcliffe College. But also received  Brazil’s Order of the Southern Cross, The Philip[ines’ Golden heart, and Japan’s Sacred Treasure in 1991. Life Magazine named her as one of the most important people of the twentieth century.

5. Keller was a political activist

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Keller was known for being an outspoken Political activist. In 1909, she joined the Socialist Party of America where she not only fought but also advocated for people’s rights. As an apolitical activist, she strongly supported socialist causes such as women’s labor rights, child labor, people with disability rights, and Universal Suffrage.

She was also called to speak at socialist events and rallies and advocated for voting rights for African American citizens. She has written in her books extensively on political issues.

6. Hellen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to be featured on a US postage stamp

Keller’s determination, courage, and advocacy for people with disabilities made her famous, and brands, institutes, and the government wanted to use her as a spokesperson. The United States Postal Service recognized and honored her by featuring her on a stamp in 1980. The stamp depicted Keller’s portrait alongside the word “freedom” written in Braille.

7. Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to learn to communicate using sign language and finger-spelling

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When Hellen became deaf-blind at the age of 19 months, she used to throw things as a way of expressing something she wanted.  According to her biography, it was quite hard to exactly know what she wanted that case, Anne Sullivan was employed as her tutor who taught her the name of things using her hand fingers as spelling. Her first letter was w-a-t-e-r.

Later they moved to Alabama for Perkins and that’s where for the first time she learned to use other methods of communication which included Braille and another method known as Tadoma. Keller learned to communicate with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan

8. Keller after the death of Sullivan

All through Keller’s life, Sullivan was her savior who came to her rescue. She taught her how to read and write from her a young age when they could use hand to count letters to her learning to use braille for communication. All through her life, they stayed together.

Unfortunately in 1936, Sullivan passed away and so Polly Thomas who worked in Keller Household since 1914 became Keller’s helper. In 1960 Thomson passed too and Winifred Corbally who was a nurse- companion helped Keller until she passed in 1968.

9. Even after her death, she remains influential and respected

By Image: Alabama quarter, reverse side, 2003.png, Public Domain,

In 1999, her name was included on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of the twentieth century, which is an impressive achievement for anyone, but mostly,  especially for a woman who couldn’t see or hear. In addition, Helen was not only inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1973 but also the state of Alabama donated a bronze statue of Keller to the National Statuary Hall Collection on October 7, 2009, to replace its 1908 statue of education reformer Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry.

10. Keller traveled around the world to Campaign for the disabled

Hellen overcame many challenges without giving up, or looking down on herself since she was disabled but took it as a privilege to help the world know that being disabled does not mean that you are not able.

Being an advocate of women’s rights, and disabled people, and as a political activist, she traveled a lot and was involved in public speaking campaigning for the rights of the minority. It is recorded that she traveled to 25 countries in the world giving motivational speeches about Deaf people’s conditions hence becoming the first deaf-blind to travel the world.

In conclusion, Helen Keller, on the other hand, is an inspiration to us all. She proven that even the most formidable obstacles can be overcome with determination and hard work. Despite her obstacles, Keller rose to prominence as a celebrated author, political activist, and advocate for women’s and people with disabilities’ rights. However, not only her legacy continues to inspire people all over the world, but also demonstrates the strength of the human spirit. We can, therefore, learn from her inspiration and work to make the world a better place, just like she did without giving up.
Even though she was blind and deaf that did not stop her for achieving her dreams.

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