Introduction

This is a story about a young man named Felix, who learns about disabilities. It is a difficult lesson so it requires some serious expertise. He meets Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, and through the character and wisdom of these women he learns to see with his heart.

Helen Keller was both blind and deaf, and this is also her story. At the age of seven, Anne Sullivan taught her about letters and words using the manual alphabet (finger spelling). Helen grew to become a scholar, a linguist with knowledge of several languages, a champion for those who want to triumph over adversity, a true "miracle woman." One of Helen's enduring character traits was a "sweetness of spirit" that was forgiving and tolerant-a trait that is so effectively portrayed by Phyllis Frelich, a hearing impaired actress who plays Helen in this video.

But this is also a story about teachers. Anne Sullivan was a great teacher who had risen above the ashes of her own difficult childhood. She began at the age of 20 to devise new techniques to educate blind-deaf students. Others had some success in this area, but none had a pupil like Helen, who responded so quickly. The lives of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, student and teacher, became entwined, each one adding to the greatness of the other.


Using The Video

Tragedy to Triumph is a springboard to launch a whole study into dealing with disabilities and attitudes toward the disabled, as well as a study of the lives of two great heroes in this struggle. The objective of this material is to teach students about acceptance of people with differences. Teaching ideas and historical background included in this guide are available to supplement your study.