Born in 1866, Annie Sullivan lost her mother when she was young and her father became an alcoholic. She and her siblings were sent to live with relatives, but in 1876 the family sent Annie and her youngest brother to the Tewksbury, Massachusetts poorhouse. There Annie lost her sight to trachoma and her young brother lost his life to tuberculosis. The loss of her brother affected her deeply. After four years at Tewksbury, she was sent to the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston and eventually received medical treatment that restored her sight.

She was graduated as Valedictorian from Perkins in 1886 and began to teach. The next year, the Headmaster of Perkins wrote to Annie Sullivan about the situation of Helen Keller who was blind and deaf, unable to communicate and demonstrating violent temper and tantrums. No one had been successful in reaching her. Annie Sullivan rose to this challenge and traveled to Alabama to meet Helen Keller.

Sullivan formulated ways of communicating through touch with her tempestuous student. Sullivan had learned the manual alphabet and immediately began to teach Keller by letting her touch things. Sullivan would then spell what the object was in Helen Keller’s hand. Keller began to build a vocabulary and then learned to read by touching pieces of cardboard with raised letters. Sullivan succeeded in teaching Keller to read, write and minimally speak. In 1900, Keller entered Radcliffe College, supported by Sullivan’s presence.

Helen Keller earned her bachelor’s degree from Radcliffe, cum laude, in 1904 and became a successful author. Sullivan and Keller became world famous through Keller’s writing, lectures and other public appearances. Sullivan’s dedication and innovative teaching had made it possible for Keller to break through the formidable barriers that challenged people with multiple disabilities. Both became accomplished, independent, self-sufficient leaders, role models for thousands of physically challenged people around the world. They raised thousands of dollars for organizations that assisted the blind.

Annie Sullivan’s methods influenced succeeding generations of teachers by demonstrating that it was possible to communicate and help develop children with severe disabilities. Sullivan’s focus, persistence, and creativity forged a model that contributed to changing public perceptions regarding the capabilities of people with disabilities. Her insight and dedication contributed to the contemporary expansion of opportunities for people with disabilities and to breaking down myths and stereotypes, furthering social and economic justice.

Sullivan was modest regarding her accomplishments, reticent and reluctant to pursue fame and fortune. Recognized in 1932 with an honorary degree from Temple University, Sullivan was also acknowledged in 1960 when Radcliffe College dedicated a fountain in her memory. At the ceremony, Helen Keller said one word, “water,” the first word Annie Sullivan had taught her.