Helen Keller, made blind, deaf, and mute at a very young age due to an illness, worked tirelessly throughout her adult life to help other people as she had been helped by her friend and mentor, Anne Sullivan. Some of her contributions included advocating for various social issues affecting women and people with disabilities, helping to establish the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and presenting her life story as both a writer and a motivational speaker to inspire others.
Though it wasn't until after graduating from college that Helen Keller began to turn her interests outward to the world, she very quickly proved herself to be a remarkable humanitarian. When she was thirty-five, she co-founded Helen Keller International, an organization charged with combating blindness and malnutrition. Over the next ten years, she also co-founded the ACLU, testified before Congress, and was extensively involved with the American Federation for the Blind.
In her adult life, Helen Keller seemed energized by helping those affected by blindness and deafness. She left the United States with the title of Counselor of International Relations for the American Foundation of Overseas Blind. When she was in her sixties and seventies, she spoke internationally on her own experiences as well as teaching about developing research in the fields of blindness and deafness.
Her book, The Story of My Life, continues to inspire people years after her death.
Although Helen Keller could have been a child who was institutionalized and forgotten about because of her significant disabilities, she, with the help of Anne Sullivan, was able to become an eloquent communicator and, through her speeches, writings, and humanitarian efforts, help millions of people throughout the world.
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