Keller's use of oral communication
Clip: 10/19/2021 | 2m 31sVideo has Closed Captions
Alexander Graham Bell shunned sign language, encouraging Keller to use oral communication.
Alexander Graham Bell encouraged Helen Keller to practice oralism, where deaf people communicate through speech and lip-reading instead of sign language. "Oralism in general, I think, has a very oppressive quality to it, because what oralism is predicated on is the idea that the only way to communicate effectively is being able to speak," said disability rights advocate Rebecca Alexander.
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...
Keller's use of oral communication
Clip: 10/19/2021 | 2m 31sVideo has Closed Captions
Alexander Graham Bell encouraged Helen Keller to practice oralism, where deaf people communicate through speech and lip-reading instead of sign language. "Oralism in general, I think, has a very oppressive quality to it, because what oralism is predicated on is the idea that the only way to communicate effectively is being able to speak," said disability rights advocate Rebecca Alexander.
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How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought their creative work to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, singer-songwriter Jewel, author Min Jin Lee, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."Providing Support for PBS.org
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Elsa Sjunneson: DeafBlind author [Audio Description + ASL]
Elsa Sjunneson is a DeafBlind professor, published author, and modern-day Helen Keller. (7m 46s)
Elsa Sjunneson: DeafBlind fencer, hiker, published author
Video has Closed Captions
Elsa Sjunneson is a DeafBlind professor, published author, and modern-day Helen Keller. (7m 48s)
Video has Closed Captions
Revisit the remarkable career and life of an icon who became a human rights pioneer. (1m 4s)
Elsa Sjunneson: DeafBlind author—Extended Audio Description
Video has Closed Captions
Elsa Sjunneson is a DeafBlind professor, published author, and modern-day Helen Keller. (13m 16s)
Helen Keller studied socialism
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Helen Keller became interested in socialism and demanded equal rights for all. (1m 41s)
![Helen Keller studied socialism [Audio Description]](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/EqPyQ19-asset-mezzanine-16x9-tGsOsJd.jpg?format=webp&resize=316x177)
Helen Keller studied socialism [Audio Description]
Video has Closed Captions
Helen Keller became interested in socialism and demanded equal rights for all. (1m 41s)
Video has Closed Captions
Helen Keller was an activist who supported the labor movement and women's right to vote. (59s)
![Helen Keller the suffragist [Audio Description]](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/yTaS3yJ-asset-mezzanine-16x9-4nbxXU4.jpg?format=webp&resize=316x177)
Helen Keller the suffragist [Audio Description]
Video has Closed Captions
Helen Keller was an activist who supported the labor movement and women's right to vote. (59s)
![Keller's use of oral communication [Audio Description]](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/dUfOBIW-asset-mezzanine-16x9-NlZMY6w.jpg?format=webp&resize=316x177)
Keller's use of oral communication [Audio Description]
Video has Closed Captions
Alexander Graham Bell shunned sign language, encouraging Keller to use oral communication. (2m 31s)
Rapper Warren "Wawa" Snipe on hip-hop in the Deaf community
Video has Closed Captions
Rapper Warren "Wawa" Snipe talks about the inspiration for what he calls "Dip-Hop." (3m 33s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...