The Helen Keller You Didn't Learn About in School | TIME
Students learn about Helen Keller learning to communicate as a child and not about her achievements as an adult, like co-founding the ACLU.
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Lack of Inclusion in Teaching the Accomplishments of Helen Keller and People with Disabilities in U.S. History
- Students primarily learn about Helen Keller's childhood milestones, but not her adult accomplishments.
- Keller's adult achievements include being the first Deafblind graduate of Radcliffe College, co-founding the American Civil Liberties Union, supporting the NAACP, and advocating for workers' rights and birth control.
- Keller's involvement in radical groups such as the Socialist Party and her association with eugenics theories have led to limited teaching about her adult life.
- Disability rights activists are advocating for more education on the contributions of people with disabilities in U.S. history, such as the Capitol Crawl.
Efforts to Teach Disability History in School Curricula
- One in four Americans have a disability.
- California and New Jersey have laws to teach the contributions of people with disabilities.
- Massachusetts guidelines urge state educators to teach disability history.
- Texas initially removed Helen Keller from state social studies standards but later added her back after public outcry.
- Haben Girma, a disability rights lawyer, emphasized the importance of teaching about history-makers with disabilities like Helen Keller.
The Untold Story of Helen Keller and the Importance of Disability Rights
- Helen Keller's image on the Alabama State quarter represents courage and education.
- The mainstream narrative of Helen Keller focuses on her as a passive child, but she was actually an agent of change.
- Helen Keller advocated for women, people of color, and disability rights.
- The dominant story of Helen Keller overlooks her activism and infantilizes disabled adults.
- This misrepresentation hinders equal treatment, job opportunities, and access to education and healthcare for disabled individuals.
- Keller's passion extended to workers' rights and unionism.
Helen Keller's Advocacy and Activism
- Helen Keller worked politically during the progressive era to address the inequality and dangers faced by workers.
- She focused on the exploitation of employees by industrialists and corporations.
- Keller became involved with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and corresponded with socialist Eugene Debs.
- She helped co-found the ACLU and advocated for the collective good rather than individual interests.
- Keller founded the American Foundation for the Blind, advocating for disability rights and education.
- She was an early member of the NAACP and spoke out against racism and lynching.
- Keller believed that disability rights, racial justice, and gender equality were interconnected.
- Critics point out Keller's previous support for eugenics, but she later distanced herself from that position.
- Keller valued every life and would be heartbroken to think otherwise.
- People should be given time to grow and learn from their mistakes.
Anita Cameron's Perspective on Helen Keller and Disability Rights
- Anita Cameron views Helen Keller as a privileged white person, despite her disabilities.
- Anita Cameron emphasizes the intersectionality of her own identity as a Black disabled Lesbian who is also poor.
- Anita Cameron highlights the importance of telling the stories of marginalized disabled individuals, whose narratives often go unheard.
- Anita Cameron was involved in a historic demonstration in 1990 where activists crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to demand the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- The ADA, which was passed as a result of the activism, requires public buildings to have accessibility features such as ramps.
- Anita Cameron and 103 other activists were arrested during the protest, emphasizing the obstacles faced by people with disabilities.
- The ADA was a significant achievement in recognizing the civil rights of people with disabilities and improving their quality of life.
- Learning about Helen Keller's activism and work can lead to a better understanding of the contributions made by disabled Americans throughout history.
- Haben Girma emphasizes the need for voicing complaints and advocating for change, as silence does not lead to progress in disability rights.
Contact information for End Credits
- To contact Olivia B. Waxman, send an email to olivia.waxman@time.com.
The Activism and Adult Achievements of Helen Keller and the Importance of Teaching Disability History
- Helen Keller's adult accomplishments include being the first Deafblind graduate of Radcliffe College, co-founding the American Civil Liberties Union, and supporting the NAACP.
- Keller also advocated for workers' rights, birth control, and disability rights.
- Keller's involvement in radical groups and association with eugenics theories have led to limited teaching about her adult life.
- Disability rights activists are advocating for more education on the contributions of people with disabilities in U.S. history.
- California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have laws or guidelines to teach disability history.
- Texas initially removed Helen Keller from state social studies standards but later added her back after public outcry.
- The mainstream narrative of Helen Keller focuses on her childhood milestones and overlooks her activism and adult accomplishments.
- This misrepresentation hinders equal treatment and opportunities for disabled individuals.
- Keller's activism extended to workers' rights and addressing the exploitation of employees.
- Keller co-founded the ACLU and advocated for the collective good rather than individual interests.
- Keller founded the American Foundation for the Blind, advocated for disability rights, and was an early member of the NAACP.