Helen Keller was an American educator and journalist, who became one of the leading humanitarians in the history of the United States. Born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, a small town in Alabama, Keller was stricken with a childhood disease that left her deaf, and blind. The illness Keller suffered (遭受) is a mystery to this day. Unable to see, or hear, Keller became difficult to deal with as her behaviour was described as wild by her family and friends.
Soon Keller and her family developed their own type of sign language that allowed them to communicate with each other. Helen’s mother needed help for her anguished (痛苦的) child, which eventually led to Anne Sullivan, who was a recent graduate (毕业生) of the Perkins Institute for the Blind. The school had been successful in the past in educating blind students, and Sullivan was one of its star graduates. Once Sullivan and Keller got through the difficult beginnings, their friendship, and association (合作) lasted for 49 years.
Keller was determined to become educated, and to teach herself to communicate. After attending several schools, she became the first deaf and blind person to earn a college degree. She became very well-known, and began a lecture tour where she made speeches on social and political issues, including women’s suffrage (选举权), and birth control. Also she required the government to raise awareness to the situation of the blind. She devoted much of her later life to raising funds for the American Foundation for the Blind.
On September 14, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States’ two highest civilian honours. In 1999, Keller was listed in Gallup’s Most Widely Admired People of the 20th century.

Helen Keller—Overcoming Disability
Childhood	Keller was made deaf and blind by an    illness. Her family and friends    her as wild because of her disabilities.
	The Keller family    their own type of sign language to make their communication possible. Anne Sullivan   Keller’s life and gave her a lot of help. Keller made up her     to teach herself to communicate. Keller earned a college degree after    several schools.
Social Activities	While travelling around the country, Keller made a series of   on social and political issues. Keller   much of her later life in raising funds for the American Foundation for the Blind.
Awards	In 1964, Keller was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1999, her name was on the   in Gallup’s Most Widely Admired People of the 20th century.