Helen Keller Summary

Helen was born in 1880 (1968) in Alabama. Keller was born with her senses
of sight and hearing, and started speaking when she was just 6 months old.
She started walking at the age of 1.Two years later (1882) she was stricken
by an illness that left her blind and deaf. The illness she contracted was called
“Brain fever” by the doctor. It produced a high body temperature. A few days
after the fever broke, Keller's mother noticed that her daughter did not show
any reaction when the dinner bell was ringing, or when a hand was waving in
front of her face. Keller had lost both her sight and hearing.

Anne Sullivan

In 1886, Keller's mother was inspired by /a travelogue -ˈtrævəlɒɡ-/an account/

a short piece of writing/ in Charles Dickens' American Notes about a
successful education of another deaf and blind woman, Laura Bridgman. So
she dispatched/ sent Helen and his father to see a specialist in Maryland.
After examining /ɪɡˈzæmining/ Helen the specialist recommended to see
Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, who was working with
deaf children at the time. Bell suggested her parents to travel to the Perkins
Institute in Boston. There the family met with the school´s director. He
presented one of recent graduates, Anne Sullivan. Anne changed Helen´s life.

Anne was also visual impaired, and became Helens’ teacher. It was the
beginning of a 49-year-long relationship that changed de world.

In 1896 Keller became determined to attend college. So, she attended the
Cambridge School for Young Ladies where she met influential people as Mark
Twain who was her inspiration. They became friends.

Helen became a prolific /prəˈlɪfɪk/ author, professional speaker and political

activist.

She published over 12 books, including autobiographies that inspired readers

to this day.

Keller was one of the cofounders of the American Civil Liberties Union.

She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor /ˈbætʃələ(r)/ of Arts
degree.

Keller died in her sleep in 1968.

Keys

 Helen was born in 1880 in Alabama.

 She was born with her senses of sight and hearing.
 She was stricken by an illness that left her blind and deaf.
 The illness was called “Brain fever” by the doctor.
 It produced a high body temperature.

 In 1886, Keller's mother was inspired by a short piece of writing (a travelogue

/trævəlɒɡ/) about a successful education of another deaf and blind woman.
 She travelled to the Perkins Institute in Boston.
 There they met with Anne Sullivan. Anne changed Helen´s life.
 It was the beginning of a 49-year-long relationship that changed de world.

 Helen became a prolific /prəˈlɪfɪk/ author, professional speaker and political

activist.
 She published over 12 books, including autobiographies that inspired readers to
this day.
 Keller was one of the cofounders of the American Civil Liberties Union.
 She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor /ˈbætʃələ(r)/ of Arts
degree.

 Keller died in her sleep in 1968.