Meet the Deaf-Blind Lawyer Fighting For People With Disabilities
158,835
Published 2018-01-31
It's easy to forget how inaccessible our world is to anyone with limited vision or hearing. Even something as simple as watching a Facebook video is a challenge due to access barriers. Haben Girma is fighting to change that.
Ahead is a transcript of Haben's interview so that it's accessible to everyone.
Video: Haben sits on a couch
Haben: Deaf-blindness is a rare disability, so most of the time I'm the first person in a certain situation. So I'm used to being a pioneer.
Video: The first shot is Haben typing on a keyboard, and the second shot is Haben speaking at an event
Title reads: Meet the Deaf-Blind Lawyer Fighting For People With Disabilities
Video: Haben sits on a couch
Haben: A lot of my friends know better than to tell me that I can't do something because that's actually encouragement to try to find a solution.
Video: In the first shot, Haben communicates via sign language with a student. In the next four shots, she surfs, dances, skis, and scales a building.
Graphic: Haben Girma was born deaf-blind, meaning she has limited hearing and vision
But that hasn't stopped her from surfing, dancing, skiing, and even scaling a building
Video: Haben smiles
Graphic: Growing up, Haben attended mainstream public schools and quickly learned to adapt
Video: Haben sits on a couch, talking
Haben: When I was in school, I had a teacher who trained me how to travel as a blind person.
Video: A bus drives down the street
Haben: I remember one of the lessons; she intentionally had me miss my stop so that I could learn how to problem solve when things go wrong.
Video: Haben works with a young student
Graphic: But not all students are so lucky
Video: Haben sits on a couch, talking
Haben: Many students with disabilities don't have access to information when they're in school.
Video: Close-up of a hand reading Braille on a keyboard
Haben: We need to make sure the schools have access to accessible technology, have access to qualified teachers who can provide training.
Video: In the first shot, Haben uses her Braille keyboard. In the second shot, a hearing aid is placed in a woman’s ear.
Graphic: Thanks to assistive technology, deaf-blind individuals have various ways to communicate
Video: Haben sits on a couch, talking. We see sporadic shots of her using her Braille keyboard.
Haben: Deaf-blindness is a spectrum. There are people with limited vision and limited hearing, and we use a variety of different communication styles: sign language, print on palm. What I use primarily is a keyboard and digital Braille display — so people will type on a wireless keyboard, and I'll read in digital Braille.
Video: President Barack Obama communicates with Haben via keyboard, and they shake hands
Obama: Hi, Haben!
Haben: Hello. It’s good to meet you!
Video: Maxine, a German Shepherd, stands with Haben
Graphic: Haben also has her trusty guide dog, Maxine, by her side
Video: Haben stands outside in front of a leafy wall, talking
Haben: Her job is to navigate around obstacles.
Video: Maxine guides Haben around a trailer hitch, then walks with her down a street
Haben: I make the decisions, and she follows me.
Video: Image of Haben in a graduation gown speaking at a university, followed by an image of Haben paddleboarding across a body of water
Graphic: Early on, Haben quickly learned to be her own biggest advocate
Video: Haben sitting on a couch, talking
Haben: When I was young, I had to teach people what I need, and that process helped me build up self-advocacy skills.
Video: People gather food at a cafeteria
Haben: There was one incident when I was in college. The college cafeteria would provide menus only in print, and blind students couldn't access the menu.
Video: Haben speaks at a TED Talk event
Graphic: Haben asked the cafeteria manager to provide an accessible menu, but her request was brushed off
Video: Haben sits on a couch, talking, followed by a shot of Haben on a laptop in the park, researching
Haben: Later, I did research. I learned that I have a right to information, and I returned to the cafeteria manager and explained, "I'm actually not asking for favors. I'm asking you to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act."
Video: Time-lapse shots of people walking through a crowded street, a busy city intersection, and traffic on the freeway
Graphic: The Americans With Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination based on disability in all areas of public life
Source: ADA.gov
Video: Haben sits on a couch, talking
Haben: It changed the whole culture in the cafeteria. They started providing menus in accessible formats. And that taught me that if I advocate for myself, I change the community.
Video: Haben, in a
All Comments (21)
-
Her voice and intonation are amazing, especially considering that she's never heard someone speak before.
-
Her voice is just charming😍
-
I always down myself saying im legally blind in one eye iwont ever amount to anything. This gave me so much motivation. Its like i was meant for this video.thank you haben for creating a pathway for those with disabilities.
-
Helen Keller would definitely approve of your efforts to make the best of your deaf-blindness and rising above her circumstances in life.
-
Im speechless and grateful... God Bless this lady..
-
Disabled lady here (cerebral palsy and autism spectrum). Thanks so much for your encouragement, Haben. Also, it continues to amaze me, over 30 years after the ADA was signed into law, how often disabled people’s basic rights are still considered “favors.” Thank you for continuing to clarify, no. We are not asking for favors. We’re asking for equality, not special treatment.
-
her story absolutely makes me so happy that she never let her disability stop her from doing anything. this is a reason why i’m learning ASL because i’ve come into contact with so many deaf people and i feel horrible when i couldn’t communicate with them. she just inspires me to help the deaf and potentially blind
-
Just imagine teaching the meaning of words to a deafblind person. It's something out of my comprehension. Great to hear her. This is fantastic
-
She could become a Voice artist ..what a beautiful voice ❤
-
She's actually amazing.
-
Thats such an amazing verbalization— I’m not asking for handouts, I’m asking for what is legally set up for me to be able to access information.
-
She is awesome!❤ Get it girl!!!
-
She has a really wonderful voice and is a courageous inspiration for all.
-
I 100% believe in what she is doing as my dad is deaf and has been since birth and my mum is also disabled too , we need more people like this to stand up for people who can’t for them self
-
Wow! Haben is such an empowering and strong women. It's amazing what you can accomplish if you try hard Thank you for sharing her story
-
Makes me feel like I can do something about something.
-
I am inspired by her and her powers that fought for the rights of disabilities people, can change the nation. Since I'm deaf so I can understand what these people go through their life, now they can do anything and not let anyone pressure on you because everyone thinks you can't do anything. She's such a strong and brave woman ever I seen.
-
I don't understand how she has an American accent since she has never seen or heard anyone, never mind a fellow American, before. I'm blown away by her abilities either way, truly a remarkable person!
-
She is an outstanding human being and pure of heart. I wish her continued success and eternal joy. 💕🙏🏾
-
Awesome Job Haben With Helping Everyone Know That We Too Can Learn How To Help People With Disabilities. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤️
