People living with disabilities go through several challenges in life because society is yet to appreciate their presence. Close analysis of the professionals in the Hall of Fame suggests that stigmatization is one of the challenges that the deaf and the blind face in most societies, including some of the developed societies.
Even though she had a humble background, Sullivan Ann managed to convince other people that disability is not inability since she contributed adequately in social development by fighting for the rights of the poor and the physically impaired in society. Due to maltreatment and neglect, she developed an antisocial behavior that made her aggressive and bitter with society. Upon the death of her mother, she never lost hope, even though her brother died shortly after the passing on of their mother.
The eye operation conducted on several occasions never brought any happiness to her, as they were all unsuccessful. She was always determined in life and never allowed the physical condition to interrupt her life. Sullivan managed to convince state officials to offer her an opportunity to learn in one of the best institutions providing the best educational services for the physically impaired.
Through her determination, hard work, patience, and desire, she was able to read and write, as well as use the alphabet manual to communicate with other blind and deaf individuals. This was a breakthrough in her life since she utilized this knowledge effectively to educate other members of society on the challenges facing the physically impaired.
She undertook the responsibility of offering training and supporting other people facing similar challenges as hers, including Helen Keller. She engaged in various forums to promote the interests of the deaf and the blind, with a speech delivered at the American Association of the Blind being one of them.
Unlike Sullivan, Helen Keller is depicted as an intelligent woman who was able to invent several signs that would help her communicate with other people upon her incapacitation at the age of eighteen months. She shares something with other physically challenged people in society, which is anger and frustration due to negligence and stigmatization. However, hope was restored to her when Sullivan intervened to be her teacher and role model.
She was able to master the alphabet manual and other communication methods for the deaf and blind. In 1936, she beat all odds to be the first deaf-blind graduate and went a notch higher to be a writer in the field. She published several books and articles on the challenges of blindness, deafness, social problems, and the challenges that women face in society.
This implies that she contributed in not only fighting for the rights of the physically impaired, but also the rights of women in society. In other words, her ideas played a role in the development of feminist ideas that improved the position of women in society.
Sullivan is of much interest since she offered critical services to people living with disabilities, including Helen Keller. She proved that disability is not inability since she was able to execute important services with her condition. Unlike other individuals in the field, she was not self-centered as she turned down an award that would make her famous in society. Her major aim was to encourage the deaf and the blind to take up opportunities that present themselves in society instead of agonizing and complaining about the physical condition.