Helen Keller was an American writer, lecturer and activist who became deafblind after an illness in early childhood. With the support of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, Keller learned to communicate through manual signing, reading and writing. She later attended Radcliffe College, graduating in 1904, and became one of the first deafblind people in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her autobiography, The Story of My Life, published in 1903, brought international attention to her experiences and education.

Keller spent much of her adult life giving lectures and campaigning on social and political issues. She worked closely with the American Foundation for the Blind and advocated improved education, employment and accessibility for blind and disabled people. She also supported women’s suffrage, workers’ rights and pacifism. Keller travelled widely, meeting political and cultural figures while promoting greater opportunities for people with disabilities.