26/06/2026
Today marks 146 years since the birth of Helen Keller, one of the most influential disability rights activists of our time. Along with her vast and varied contributions to literature, politics, and education, Keller is most widely recognized for her considerable contribution to spreading disability awareness and advocating for disability rights.
Ms Keller was born in 1880 and lost her vision and hearing when she was only 19 months old from an unknown illness (potentially meningitis). When Helen was 8, her mother learned the story of Laura Bridgman, the first deafblind child to receive a ‘significant’ education in the English language and became determined to pursue the same for her daughter. It was this event that started Helen’s journey in education, and from there into the public sphere.
But Helen was always well-aware that she had been born into a unique situation. Her family had the means and desire to get her the assistance she needed. In her Biography, The Story of My Life, Helen wrote "I owed my success partly to the advantages of my birth and environment. I have learned that the power to rise is not within the reach of everyone." This became a driving motivation of her disability advocacy, highlighting the need for governmental and societal support for people with disability.
This past week, we have been celebrating Deafblind Awareness week, which falls on the week of Ms Keller’s birthday every year. It’s a time to look back at the history of disability and disability support in Australia and Internationally, but also a time to look towards our future. It would be a disservice to those who came before us not to celebrate how far we have come, but equally, it’s important to acknowledge how far we still have to go.
So, please join us in celebrating Helen Keller, and all the other disability advocates before and after her!
Deafblind Awareness week 2026 runs from June 22 to June 28. Today, June 27, is the International Day of Deafblindness.
