Helen was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

She lost her sight and hearing at 19 months old from a high fever

She was unable to communicate, which made her a very violent and wild child.

Her parents reached out to Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, for help.  He helped Helen's family find a teacher for Helen named Anne Sullivan.

Ann was very patient with Helen and tried to teach her finger spellings of words.

One afternoon while visiting a water pump, Helen finally made the connection that Anne's hand motions were making words.  From this point forward, Helen was able to communicate.

Helen attended the Perkins Institute for the Blind, and later Radcliffe College,