The first deafblind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. Helen Keller Helen Keller Helen Keller Born Helen Adams Keller June 27, 1880 Tuscumbia, Alabama, . Died June 1, 1968 (aged 87) Arcan Ridge Easton, Connecticut, . Occup ation Author, political activist, lecturer Educa tion Radcliffe College Signature Childhood Born normally Helen Keller was born with the ability to see and hear. At 19 months old, she contracted an illness described by doctors as "an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain", which might have been scarlet fever or meningitis. The illness left her both deaf and blind. At that time, she was able municate somewhat with Martha Washington, the six-year-old daughter of the family cook, who understood her signs; by the age of seven, Keller had more than 60 home signs municate with her family. At 19 months old Go deaf and blind scarlet fever or meningitis Caused by illness only with the six-year-old daughter of the family municate by the age of seven Have 60 home signs Turning point Miracle worker Anne's teachings to Helen involved a very strict schedule with constant introduction of new vocabulary words; however, Anne quickly changed her teachings after seeing they did not suit Helen. Instead, she began to teach her vocabulary based on her own interests, where she spelled each word out into Helen's palm ; within six months
