Anne Sullivan

teacher · Helen Keller · blind · perseverance

Inspired Teacher. Anne Sullivan became famous for teaching Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, how to understand language and communicate. Her patient methods changed Helen's life completely.

Overcame Her Own Challenge. When Anne was just five years old, she caught a disease called trachoma that made her partially blind. Instead of giving up, she learned to read and write in a new way at a special school.

Learned at Perkins School. Anne went to the Perkins School for the Blind, where she studied hard and became an excellent student. By age 20, she graduated and was ready to become a teacher.

Lifelong Companions. Anne didn't just teach Helen Keller for a few years, they stayed together their whole lives as best friends and teammates. Anne supported Helen through college and helped her become a famous writer and speaker.

Special Teaching Method. Anne invented creative ways to teach Helen by spelling words into her hands so she could feel the letters and learn language. This method, called the Tadoma technique, helped Helen understand the world around her.