Helen Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, disability rights advocate, and lecturer. She was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and became deaf and blind at 19 months due to a severe illness. With the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan, Keller learned to communicate through touch and sign language, and went on to graduate from Radcliffe College (now Harvard University). She wrote 14 books and hundreds of articles, and became a renowned advocate for people with disabilities, women's rights, and social justice. Keller traveled the world, lecturing and promoting empowerment, and left a lasting legacy in the fields of education, disability rights, and social activism.