New Facts - Blog #5

Annie taught Helen to write using a special board with slits. Helen would put her pencil between the slits to keep her letters straight. Helen was taught how to read lips by putting her fingers on a person's mouth. and read braille brooks.

When Helen went to the Perkins School in 1888, she met other blind children. Helen also learned how to talk. A singing teacher helped Helen use her voice. Helen continued her education at the Cambridge School for Young Ladies in 1896, which helped prepare her for college. Helen then went to Radclliffe College in Massachusetts and graduated in 1904 with Anne's help with a Bachelor's degree.

Helen wanted to work for her own money and began working for the American Foundation for the Blind. Many people asked Helen to also work for the deaf, but at first she only focused on the blind. She gave speeches.

In 1914 Anne got ill and needed help assisting Helen, so they hired Polly Thomson as an aide. Polly accompanied Helen and Anne on their trips to other countries to ask people to help the blind. In visiting many countries Helen helped raised money for the blind. This was used to help build schools for the blind. The Presidential Medal of Freedom given to Americ'a highest award for non-military people was awarded to Helen in 1964, and one year later Helen was elected to the Women's Hall of Fame.

1918 Helen starred in a movie about her life called "Deliverance" in Hollywood, California. Anne and Polly told Helen what she needed to do in each scene of the movie, and the director would stamp his foot to let Helen know when she needed to perform her scenes. Helen also started in the movie "Helen Keller: Her Story". Later all three performed a show in theaters about how Helen learned how to communicate.

In 1936, Anne Sullivan died and Helen missed her greatly. Polly continued to remained an aide to Helen as they traveled around the world. Helen traveled the world nine times in her life and visited 35 countries. When WW2 happened, Helen visited wounded soldiers and gave hope to those who lost their eye sight or hearing.

Her final years Helen spent in Westport Connecticut at her home called "Arcan Ridge". She died in her sleep at 88 years old.

Fun facts: Helen learned to read Latin, Greek, German and French languages. She was also able to read five different kinds of print for the blind, including American Braille and European braille.