Haben Girma

Haben Girma is the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School and a prominent disability rights advocate who has earned international recognition for her work. She was born in 1988 to an Eritrean mother and Ethiopian father, and grew up in Oakland, California. As an attorney and public speaker, Girma works to advance opportunities for people with disabilities through civil rights advocacy and public education. Her achievements have been recognized by heads of state, including former U.S. President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton. In 2013, she was named a White House Champion of Change. Girma's memoir, "Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law," was published in 2019 and details her journey through law school and her advocacy work. She frequently delivers keynote speeches about disability rights at universities, companies, and conferences worldwide. Her innovative use of technology, including a digital braille device that allows her to communicate with others, has helped demonstrate how adaptive technologies can create opportunities for people with disabilities. Girma continues to work as a disability rights lawyer while maintaining an active schedule as a public speaker and author.

Readers connect strongly with Girma's personal narrative and direct writing style in her memoir "Haben." Amazon reviews (4.7/5 from 1,200+ ratings) and Goodreads (4.3/5 from 3,000+ ratings) highlight her ability to educate without preaching. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of how deafblind people navigate daily life - Humor throughout challenging situations - Practical insights into accessibility technology - Balance of personal stories with educational content Common criticisms: - Some readers found the chronological jumps confusing - A few noted the writing could be more polished - Several wanted more detail about her law school experience One reader noted: "She shows rather than tells what accessibility means." Another wrote: "The strength is in the small details - how she orders at restaurants, travels alone, or uses technology." The book receives consistent praise from both disabled and non-disabled readers for increasing understanding of disability rights and challenging misconceptions about disabilities.

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law (2019) A memoir chronicling Girma's journey as a deafblind student navigating through Harvard Law School, detailing her experiences with accessibility challenges, adaptive technologies, and her emergence as a disability rights advocate.

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