RNZFB Celebrates Helen Keller Day
On Sunday 27 June people all over the world will honour Helen Keller, an inspirational deafblind woman who has touched
the hearts of people from all walks of life, and notably deafblind people.
The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) provides specialised deafblind services for over 300 New
Zealanders registered as RNZFB members.
Teresa Bradfield, RNZFB Executive Director Direct Client Contact Services, says deafblindness is a unique impairment
which affects how people are able to communicate, get around the community and access information.
“Helen Keller is one of the world’s most renowned deafblind people. She achieved a worldwide following and raised
awareness about deafblindness and how to communicate with deafblind people. She is an inspiration to all, but
particularly to our deafblind members,” she says.
Born in America on 27 June in 1890, Helen Keller became deafblind before she was two-years-old, after contracting a
severe illness. But Helen went on to achieve great things.
In 1904, Helen became the first deafblind person to graduate from college, when she received a Bachelor of Arts from
Radcliffe College. She developed a love for writing, publishing several books about her life and unique thoughts of the
world.
Helen also travelled the world with her friend and interpreter, Anne Sullivan who was blind. The two gathered a
worldwide following, while raising awareness about deafblindness and teaching people how to communicate with deafblind
people.
In 1948, Helen Keller visited New Zealand where many of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind’s members had the
special chance to meet her.
“Helen Keller has shown millions of people that disability need not be the end of the world. That, with a little help,
deafblind people can achieve almost anything. Her accomplishments serve as a beacon of hope, courage and perseverance.
“Helen Keller Day also serves to remind us of the tremendous work that the RNZFB’s Deafblind Services team does every
day, enabling deafblind New Zealanders to live as independently as possible,” Teresa Bradfield says.
Deafblind people have a combination of sight and hearing impairments. Most deafblind people have some useful sight or
hearing, though there are some who are totally deaf and blind. There are thought to be more than 1,500 people in New
Zealand whose deafblindness has had a significant impact on their lives.
ENDS