Overcoming Adversity

Adversity: Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968) was an American author who became famous because of her great triumph over adversity. At only nineteen months old she suffererd an illness through which she lost the senses of sight and hearing, and consequently became dumb. After a painful period of frustration whe was helped by the skill and patience of Anne Sullivan Macy, who taught her how to speak. Under Anne's expert guidance Helen Keller graduated with honors at Radcliffe College in 1904, and later published several books. Her first meeting with her teacher was described in William Gibson's play The Miracle Worker (1959) which was made intoa film in 1962.

Renie Gee, editor, Who Said That? p. 64.