The Deafblind Helen Keller
Helen Keller was born a healthy child on June 27, 1880, Tuscumbia Alabama. 2 years later, Keller was struck with scarlet fever and became deaf and blind. Martha Washington, daughter of the Kellers' chef, taught her own type of sign language to Keller, and by the time she was 7, they both came up with more than 60 signs. Unfortunately, this didn't help Keller's behavior. She would have many tantrums and giggle uncontrollably. One day, Keller's parents read about another deaf-blind child and went to see the child's tutor, Dr. J Julian Chisolm. He advised to see Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. He said to go to Anne Sullivan to tutor Keller.
Keller and Sullivan
When Anne Sullivan began her lessons, she taught Helen a type of language for the blind, like sign language. Keller, however, only thought it was a game. She didn't know that Sullivan was trying to communicate. She didn't know anything even had a name! Then, while Sullivan was teaching outside, she took Keller to a little water pump. She pumped the water onto her hand, while in the other hand, Sullivan spelled out W-A-T-E-R. Suddenly, Helen realized that what was pouring onto her hand was what Sullivan was trying to spell out. She finally understood that all that time, Anne Sullivan was trying to teach her that everything had a name and meaning. Eager to learn, she touched everything and she spelled everything in her hand. By the end of the day, Keller had learned 30 words! As the lessons continued, Sullivan taught Keller how to write and speak, although it was difficult to understand her when she spoke. Even past her childhood, Sullivan continued to support Keller for 49 years.
Anne Sullivan