Helen Keller born in tuscumbia alabama USA in 1880 contracted a fever at 18 month old resulting in her being both blind and deaf. Guided by the remarkable eductor anne mansfield Sullivan from the perkins School for the blind killer acquired proficiency in sign language and Braille. In subsequent years .she also developed the ability to speak given below in the extract from her Life
NEXT TOPIC
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES:A JOURNEY TO COLLEGE
When I began my second year at gilman school, I was full of hope and determination to succeed. But during the first few weeks I was confronted with unforseen difficulties.Mr. Gilman had agreed that that year i should study mathematics principally. I had physics, algebra, geometry, astronomy,greak and Latin . Unfortunately many of the books I needed had not been embossed in time for me to begin with the classes and I like important apparatus for some of the studies. The classes I was in very large, and it was impossible for the Teachers to give me special instruction. Best Sullivan was obliged to read all the books to me , and interpret for the instructors and for the first time in eleven years it seemed as if her dear hand would not be equal to the task.
It was necessary for me to write algebra and geometry in class and solve problems in physics, and this i could not do until we bought a Braille writer, by means of which I could put down the steps and process of my work .i could not follow with my eyes the geometrical figure drawing on the blackboard,and my only means of getting a clear idea of them was to make them on a cushion with straight and curved wires , which had bent and pointed ends . I had to carry in my mind,as Mr. Keith says in his report, the lettering of the figures, hypothesis and conclusion the construction and the process of the proof.in a word, every study had its obstacles. Something i lost all courage. And betrayed my feelings in a way I am ashamed to after