Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer who was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She advocated for women's suffrage, workers' rights, and socialism. The most important person in Keller's life was her teacher Anne Sullivan, who enabled all of Keller's achievements by teaching her how to communicate despite her disabilities. As a child, Keller suffered an illness that left her both deaf and blind.