Helen Keller's Teacher

The true story of the dedicated woman, Anne Sullivan Macy, who became Helen Keller's teacher and lifelong friend.

Anne Sullivan, herself visually impaired, became Helen's instructor at only 20 years of age. It was the beginning of a 49-year relationship, Sullivan evolving into governess and then eventual companion. Anne Sullivan arrived at Keller's house in March 1887, and immediately began to teach Helen to communicate by spelling words into her hand, beginning with "d-o-l-l" for the doll that she had brought Keller as a present.

Keller's big breakthrough in communication came when she realized that the motions her teacher was making on the palm of her hand, while running cool water over her other hand, symbolized the idea of "water"; she then nearly exhausted Sullivan demanding the names of all the other familiar objects in her world. As lifelong companions Sullivan and Keller continually lived, worked, and traveled together. -- Wikipedia

For more books and films about Helen Keller and her special relationship with her teacher, Anne Sullivan, visit our Helen Keller Collection.