15 Secrets Most People Probably Don’t Know About Helen Keller

Helen learned to communicate in many different ways, including finger-spelling, lip-reading, reading Braille and raised type, and using a typewriter. But did you know that she also learned to speak? Watch this incredible video of Helen’s devoted teacher, Anne Sullivan, demonstrating how she taught Helen speech.

Helen was a great fan of music. Through her highly sensitive fingers, she could “hear” the vibration of the instruments as well as the human voice. Here she is pictured “listening” to violinist Jascha Heifetz.

A staunch advocate for people with disabilities, Helen traveled to 39 countries in her lifetime, including England, Scotland, France, India, South Africa, Japan, and Korea. During her travels, she gave speeches and lectures and met with such illustrious figures as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Indian Premier Jawaharlal Nehru, and Japanese Emperor Hirohito.