Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
“We are finding out what is wrong with the world. We are going to make it right.”
Imagine waking up in a world that is completely dark and entirely silent. No sight of the bright yellow sun, and no sound of your parents’ voices.
When Helen Keller (1880-1968) was just a baby in the United States, a severe illness left her both blind and deaf.
Because she could not see or hear, she communicated with her family using sign language. Still, when she realised that her family was speaking with each other using their mouths, she became frustrated that she could not join their conversations.
Everything changed when she met Anne Sullivan. A teacher, Sullivan knew Keller was brilliant and that she just needed a different way to communicate.
One morning, Sullivan held Keller’s hand under a cool, rushing water pump. As the liquid splashed over Keller’s skin, Sullivan quickly spelled the letters W-A-T-E-R on Keller’s other palm. Suddenly, Keller understood that the cool feeling had a name.
That moment unlocked her world.
Learning was not easy. Keller had to practise spelling words on her hand thousands of times. Eventually, Sullivan took Keller to a school for the blind, where she learned Braille. Braille is read by touching raised dots. Keller also learned how to lip-read. She would gently touch her teacher’s lips and throat to feel the vibrations when words were spoken.
Can you imagine how much patience that took?
Keller went on to graduate from university, publish books and travel the world. She also gave inspiring speeches and wrote essays.
Keller spent her life helping other people with disabilities and fighting for the rights of women and workers. She also advocated against racism, segregation and war.
Compassion for everyone
From a young age, Helen Keller knew the power of communication and connection. As she grew older and learned about society’s problems, she did not turn away. Instead, she used her platform to fight for the rights of other groups who were suffering in the United States. Her life shows us the power of compassion and activism.
Content provided by JEMS Character Academy
