Helen Keller is one of the most inspirational people in American history. He had to overcome physical disabilities and many other obstacles to live the life he did. Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. His parents, Arthur Keller and Kate Adams, both served for the Confederates during the Civil War (Thompson, 2003). Like most parents, they were ecstatic when Keller was born. At 18 months old she was a happy, healthy baby who was already learning to say her first words. However, one morning, she woke up with a very high fever and had to go to hospital. The doctor told his parents that he had a serious illness known as “acute congestion of the stomach and brain.” This disease caused her to lose her sight and hearing for the rest of her life (Wilkie, 1969). She was unable to communicate with anyone and was isolated from the entire world. For years, Keller simply clung to her mother's skirt to walk around and feel people's hands to try to find out what they were doing. He learned to do several things this way, including milking a cow and kneading bread. He learned to recognize people by feeling their faces and clothes. By the age of six, Keller had invented 60 different signs to communicate with his family (Keller, 1988). She was a bright child, but she began to feel frustrated and angry because she couldn't speak and started throwing tantrums. The family knew they had to do something to help the child, so they began looking for a teacher. In March 1886, 21-year-old Anne Sullivan arrived at the Keller home; he immediately began teaching Keller how to communicate by writing letters in his hand. A month after Sullivan's arrival, Keller made a major breakthrough in the medium of paper in the National Statuary Hall Collection (Wilkie, 1992). Keller also made several films about his life story. Keller was an author, speaker, political activist, and an individual many Americans will never forget. He overcame numerous obstacles and overcame his disabilities to gain international fame. Her dedication has allowed her to help other disabled people live fuller lives. The difficulties he had to overcome show people that if they put their mind to it, they can accomplish anything. Works Cited Forrest, Ellen. Helen Keller. Tucson: Learning Page, 2005. Print.Keller, Helen. The story of my life. New York: Bantam Dell, 1988. Thompson, Gare, and Nancy Harrison. Who was Helen Keller? New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2003. Print.Wilkie, Katharine E. Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph. New York: Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc., 1969.