L I O N S C L U B S D I S T R I C T 1 0 5 M ‘ H E A R I N G F O R A L L C A M PA I G N ’
EDITOR: LION ROGER M. HANDCOCK. DISTRICT 105M SPEECH & HEARING OFFICER 2006/2012. ISSUE No: 9
This issue features two people you should have heard or know of. BUT DID YOU KNOW THEY BOTH HAD HEARING DISABILITIES?
HELEN KELLER
- an inspirational woman
Most Lions will be aware that Helen Keller was blind.
However, did you know she was also deaf?
It is common knowledge that Helen Keller was blind and that she challenged Lions to
become “Knights of the Blind”, but she was also deaf known as dual sensory impairment.
H
“
I am your opportunity
elen Adams Keller was born on 27th June, 1880
in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA. At the age of just
18 months, she developed a fever. The devastating
illness left her blind, deaf, and mute.
At the age of six, teacher Anne Mansfield Sullivan of the
‘Perkins School for the Blind’ was hired as Helen Keller's
teacher. The 20-year-old Anne Sullivan taught Helen
Keller sign language and Braille. The story of the teacher
and her pupil has been retold in William Gibson's play
and film, ‘The Miracle Worker.’
At the age of 10, Helen learned to speak. Sarah Fuller
of the Horace Mann School was her first speech teacher.
In 1898, now aged 18, Helen entered the Cambridge
School for Young Ladies. In the autumn of 1900, she
entered Radcliffe College where she earned a Bachelor
of Arts degree cum laude in 1904.
Throughout the years, Anne Sullivan remained at her
student's side. She formed letters into Helen Keller's
hand for comprehension of textbooks, college lectures,
and conversation.
Helen Keller's Personal Crusade
In 1915, Helen Keller joined the first Board of Directors
of the Permanent Blind Relief War Fund, later known as
the American Braille Press.
In 1924, as a young woman, she started the ‘Helen
Keller Endowment Fund’. In the same year, Helen Keller
joined the staff of the ‘American Foundation for the Blind’
”
as a counsellor on national and international relations.
On 30 June, 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions
Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA.
She challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in
this crusade against darkness." She said, "I am your
opportunity. I am knocking at your door."
In 1946, she became a counsellor on international
relations for the ‘American Foundation for Overseas Blind’
(a sister organization to the ‘American Foundation for the
Blind’). She travelled to 35 countries.
A film was made of Helen Keller's life. ‘Helen Keller in
Her Story’ received the Oscar award from the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for best feature-length
documentary film in 1955.
Helen Keller made her last major public appearance in
Washington, D.C., USA, in 1961. She received the ‘Lions
Humanitarian Award’ for lifetime service.
She died on 1 June, 1968 at the age of 87. Her request
to the Lions 43 years earlier inspired Lions Clubs
International to adopt the Sight Conservation and Work
with the Blind Programme as a major service initiative.
Helen Keller Memorial Park
In 1971, the Lions of Alabama dedicated the Helen Keller
Memorial Park. It is located in the grounds of Helen
Keller's birthplace which is known as Ivy Green. The focal
point of the memorial is a bust of Helen Keller with an
engraved plaque which states, "I am your opportunity."
L E T ’ S B R E A K T H E S O U N D B A R R I E R - T O G E T H E R . P L E A S E C O P Y & PA S S R O U N D
C O P Y R I G H T
HEARTHIS
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HEARTHIS
L I O N S ‘ H E A R I N G F O R A L L C A M PA I G N ’
DEATH BY NOISE!
ONE OF THE
WORLD’S GREAT
COMPOSERS WAS
DEAFENED
Ludwig van Beethoven, the German
composer and pianist, famously
complained: “My ears whistle and
buzz all day and night. I can say I
am leading a wretched life.”
Born in 1770 in Bonn, then the
capital of the Electorate of Cologne
and part of the Holy Roman Empire,
Beethoven moved to Vienna in his
early 20s, studying with Joseph
Haydn and quickly gaining a
reputation as a virtuoso pianist.
His hearing began to deteriorate in
his late twenties, yet he continued
to compose, conduct, and perform,
even after becoming completely
deaf. He died at the age of 56 in
1827 and is buried in Vienna.
Although in the latter part of his
life being profoundly deaf,
Beethoven’s legacy of classical
music will be appreciated by many
people for many years to come.
I recently read of a rock fan who,
tormented by ringing in his ears,
stabbed himself to death.
The 52 year old management
consultant and married father of
two from south-east London,
suffered constant ringing in the
ears after going to see a rock band
in July 2010. This lead to three
months of insomnia.
After several unsuccessful
attempts to get treatment, he
stabbed himself in the heart.
For me, there are two things that
come to mind. Firstly, how excessive noise can cause damage to
the sensitive eardrums and clearly
indicates the need to ensure you
protect your ears from any form of
excessive loud noise.
Secondly, it confirms the discomfort and distress caused by any
form of ringing or musical sounds
in the ears.
WHO CARRIES A
CANE WITH RED
STRIPES?
I am sure you will all know that if
you see someone carrying a white
cane, it indicates that person has a
sight impairment, not necessarily
blind, but with limited vision.
Although not very common, you
may also have seen someone
carrying a cane that is white, but
also has red stripes.
Do you know that a white cane
with red stripes indicates the carrier
not only has a sight impairment,
but also a hearing impairment?
You may also be interested to
know that it was a Lion who came
up with the idea of a white cane. In
1930, Lion George Bonham develloped the idea of a white cane, to
make people aware of someone
who was blind, after watching
someone trying to cross the road.
THANKS FOR USED POSTAGE STAMPS
The following is taken from a letter sent out from Hearing Dogs For Deaf people
“Thank you again for kindly donating your used stamps to the HDFD
(Hearing Dogs For Deaf people)
charity appeal.
With your help in 2010 we raised
the fantastic sum of £11,563.93
through used postage stamps
alone.
Hearing Dog 'Marti' is the sixth dog
to be supported by funds raised
from stamp recycling helping us to
provide complete partnership support throughout Marti's whole
working life.
Marti is a cheeky Cocker Spaniel x
Poodle who lives with Janice.
The previous dogs fully supported
by stamps alone were Becks,
Penny, Womble, Flynn and Woody.
We would be very grateful if you
could continue to send stamps on a
regular basis”.
It would help if you would please
cut the stamps from the envelope
leaving approximately 2cm of paper
around the stamp.
Foreign stamps can be sent separately and marked clearly on the
front of the package ‘Foreign
Stamps Only’ as these generate a
greater revenue.
Thank you for your support.
L E T ’ S B R E A K T H E S O U N D B A R R I E R - T O G E T H E R . P L E A S E C O P Y & PA S S R O U N D