Helen Keller was both deaf and blind, and being unable to hear her own voice, had only a partial grasp of speech. In spite of living in this cocoon of silence and darkness, Helen was highly intelligent, amazingly well read and politically active. She was a bit of a contrast in that although she relied heavily on the financial support of several benefactors, she despised capitalism and was a self admitted socialist. She communicated mostly through brail and by having words spelled out to her on her hand.
Some years ago I spoke to a support group for people who were either profoundly deaf or visually challenged or both. It was just a tiny glimpse into their world of astounding challenges. The group was arranged in a specific seating pattern for my presentation. I did have a signing interpreter by my side as I spoke but I was encouraged not to speak too quickly. One young man sat immediately in front of me and concentrated on lip reading. Another member of the group sat beside a care giver who typed my words in large print onto a computer screen. Still another woman listened to my speech as her carer spelled the words onto her hand...a sort of finger Braille in the same way that Helen Keller communicated.
Over the years I have spoken at many support group meetings but that afternoon stands apart. The young man who rose to thank me for coming signed his message. I could read the emotion in his face as he spoke of the hard journey his life had taken. I left the meeting feeling both exhausted and humbled...exhausted from the effort of concentrating to communicate and humbled by the fortitude and determination of the people I met.
As I am reading about Helen Keller, I wonder at her own courage in facing a life of personal adversity. Keller was a national icon and also well known in international circles. The manner in which she lived her life is an inspiration for us all.
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