June 25 - July 1, 2006, is Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. Helen Keller became sick as an infant and lost her ability to see and hear. As a young child, Helen’s frustration level was obviously high, which caused her parents to hire a tutor for her. Her tutor’s name was Anne Sullivan and with Anne’s help, Helen soon learned to spell words. Over a short amount of time, Helen learned how to speak through using her hands to follow Anne’s mouth as she spoke. Helen also learned how to dance by following the rhythm of the music through the vibrations felt through her feet. As an adult, she entered college and went on to become an author, having written several books.

What an amazing woman, Helen was! Her life story could have been dramatically different, since she was both deaf and blind. She could have easily given up and isolated herself from the world around her, living as a hermit in society. She very well could have used her deafness and blindness as a disadvantage. However, she didn’t. Helen seemed passionate about everything she endeavored to do. When she put her mind to something, she had no problem fulfilling her goals. She lived to be a very successful woman, author, public speaker, and leader, in our society.

During the Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week, please take the time to study more of Helen’s life. There is so much that we can learn from her. I believe that even today, in the year 2006, we can learn by her example. We should never allow our deafness to become a handicap. We should never allow ourselves to withdraw and isolate ourselves from society. We have every right to our thoughts, feelings, desires, dreams, goals, and endeavors. We are just as capable of achieving our goals and dreams, as Helen was.

It’s a matter of choice for us, much like it was a matter of choice for Helen Keller. She chose to take her difficult situation and circumstance and allow it to blossom into the best kind of success -- that of dignity, courage, and honor. Allow Helen Keller’s spirit to rise up within you. Every individual has that same passion hidden deep within themselves. Find your passion and pursue it. All things are possible!