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Someone learning to communicate when they are deaf, mute, and blind is simply spectacular. For many people, this sounds impossible; but believe me, it’s not. To learn to communicate, one has to have an enormous amount of patience and intelligence. This is why Helen Keller is a truly amazing person. Born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, was Helen Keller. The Keller family was overjoyed until one frightening morning. The parents of Helen were scared to death as their now, 19 month year old baby was sick. By the next day, however, the fever had vanished and Helen seemed fine. What Helen’s parents did not know was that Helen was now blind, deaf, and mute. When Helen did not respond or react to anything, the parents knew that something was wrong. It wasn’t until Helen was at the age of 6 that the Keller parents took Helen to see Doctor Alexander Graham Bell. After examination Helen, Doctor Bell recommended Helen in going to see the Perkins Institute for the Blind. Doctor Bell also recommended Anne Sullivan. Little did the Keller family know, Anne would soon drastically change Helen’s life forever. It was the March of 1887 when Anne Sullivan arrived in front of the Keller’s household from Boston. Being party blind herself not too many years ago, Anne found working with Helen very relatable. Because Anne got surgery done in 1881, Anne now had better eyesight. Helen’s common habits of screaming, kicking, and choked screams of frustration soon disappeared. One day, Anne put Helen’s hand under cool running water. Following that, Anne spelled out the word “water” on Helen’s hand. “That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!” was the quote Helen later used in describing her start of understanding. It was then in 1888 when Helen was 8, that Anne brought Helen to the Perkins Institute for the Blind. It was there that Helen learned how to read and write Braille. Anne and others also learned that Helen had great intelligence; for Helen learned with rapid speed. It was in 1890 when Helen left the Perkins Institute for the Blind and went to the school Horace Mann School for the Deaf. Because Helen was so intelligent, Helen was able to learn English, German, and French. Other courses that Helen took included math, literature, physics, and astronomy. Helen was at age 10 when she attended the school Horace Mann for the Deaf and learned all that she did. Helen was also learning how to speak as her past years she used sign language. Helen’s speech was not quite clear, but she was still was able to communicate with others. Her speech improved over the matter of 6 years, but was never quite clear. In 1894, Helen lwft the school and went to the Wright-Humanson school for the Deaf in New York. After 2 years of studying there, Helen attended the Cambridge School for the Young Ladies in 1896. Anne Sullivan still stood by Helen’s side throughout Helen’s years of education. In 1900, Helen attended Radcliffe College. After 4 years of hard studying and effort, Helen graduated with honors. The graduation of Radcliffe College ended Helen’s educational years. Her career of many topics would soon begin. Foundations dedicated for the Deaf and Blind were soon formed and supported by Helen. The Helen Keller Endowment Found was a foundation that focused on the wealthy giving donations. Helen was also an active member of the American Foundation for the Blind, and the American Foundation for the Blind Overseas. Along with being an active contributor to many foundations, Helen was also a successful writer. __The Story of My Life__ is a very well-known story along with other books called __Song of the Stone Wall__, __Out of the Dark__, __My Later Life__, and many other books. All these books are translated in over 50 different languages. Helen was also a world wide traveler. Helen had traveled to over 25 different nations to lecture people about the blind and deaf. Her speeches were heard world wide as she was a role model to many. Helen was definitely a person that many looked up to as she was a determined, caring, and supportive person. Helen also spent time with soldiers as some of them lost their eyesight at battle. At the time, World War 2 was occurring and Helen felt that she should help the soldiers as they had risked their lives for the country. Being there with the soldiers helped them cope with their blindness. Another way Helen was becoming popular was through a okay and movie called “The Miracle Worker”. “The Miracle Worker” based itself on Helen’s childhood and achievements. A significant part was when Anne put Helen’s hand under cool rushing water. This was a huge moment in Helen’s life. Helen was never married and had no children. This was why Helen had so many opportunities to help others. In conclusion, Helen was a very versitle person when it came to a career. As you have read Helen’s history and achievements, it is for a simple reason why I chose to do my report on Helen Keller. Helen was simply a determined, smart and loving person. Her disabilities gave her opportunities that made her the way we know her today. Her actions have left me stunned as I know that overcoming her disabilities was a great challenge. Yet when she was done with school, she did not move on with just herself in mind. Helen, instead, opened her heart to many others and gave them knowledge that they lacked. Helen is a true role model and has showed us that nothing is impossible. Because of her awareness of blindness and deaf, we are now aware of this. In conclusion, I chose Helen Keller for her many achievements, and her wonderful contributions. Maybe becoming blind, deaf, and mute happened to Helen for a reason. For Helen has forever changed our thoughts of the possible and impossible. She has left her mark and has showed us to never give up no matter how big an obstacle is. She was a truly amazing person. That is why people still refer to Helen Keller as a role model even when she died 31 years ago on June 1, 1968.

Bibliography: Book: Outstanding Americans Author: Sheila Keenan Place of Publication: New York, New York Publishing Company: Scholastics Inc. Year of Publication: 2003

Online Encyclopedia: World Book Article Name: Keller. Helen Publishing Company: World Book URL: [|www.worldbookonline.com]

Online Periodical Article Name: Helen Keller Original Publication Name: American Decades Publishing Company: Gale Research Year of Publication: 1998 Date Accessed: September 30, 2009 URL: [|www.galenet.galegroup.com/]

Book: __American Heroes__ Author: Marfé Ferguson Delano Place of Publication: New York Publishing Company: National Geographic Society Year of Publication: 2005

Encyclopedia Name: __World Book__ Article Name: Keller, Helen Adams Place of Publication: Chicago, Illinois Publishing Company: World Book Inc. Year of Publication: 2006

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