Helen Keller was a famous American author, advocate for disability rights, political activist, and lecturer. She was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and lost her sight and hearing after a bout of illness when she was 19 months old. At age seven, she met her lifelong companion Anne Sullivan and began using more formal language instead of primarily relying on home signs. Sullivan served as Keller's teacher and taught her language skills such as reading and writing. After receiving an education from both specialized and mainstream schools, Keller went on to attend Radcliffe College at Harvard University. She achieved the notable distinction of becoming the first person in the United States who was both deaf and blind to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.