Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law

Haben Girma's memoir chronicles her journey as a deafblind woman navigating education, family relationships, and professional aspirations. The narrative begins with her childhood in Oakland, California, where she managed progressive hearing and vision loss while attending mainstream schools. The book details Girma's experiences in multiple environments - from public schools to camps for blind youth, and from family visits to Eritrea to her undergraduate years at Lewis & Clark College. Her path leads to Harvard Law School, where she develops innovative technological solutions to access her education and eventually becomes the first deafblind graduate of the institution. The memoir covers Girma's transition into her legal career as a disability rights advocate and her work expanding the reach of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her story encompasses both personal challenges and professional achievements as she creates new possibilities for accessibility in education and the workplace. This memoir stands as a testament to innovation, self-advocacy, and the ongoing work of disability rights advancement in American society. Through Girma's experiences, readers gain insight into the complex intersections of disability, education, technology, and law.

Readers describe this memoir as an enlightening look into the experiences of a deafblind person navigating education, work, and daily life. Many note the book's conversational tone and humor. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of assistive technologies - Stories about advocacy and problem-solving - Balance between serious topics and light moments - Educational value for understanding disability rights Common criticisms: - Writing style can feel basic or repetitive - Some sections drag with unnecessary detail - Jumps between timelines can be confusing - Limited depth in certain key life moments Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,000+ ratings) Sample review: "While the story itself is inspiring, the writing is somewhat simplistic. However, the insights into navigating life as a deafblind person make this worth reading." -Goodreads reviewer "Her practical approaches to overcoming barriers should be required reading for educators and employers." -Amazon reviewer

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🔸 Haben Girma became the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School in 2013, breaking barriers and setting new precedents for accessibility in legal education. 🔸 Her parents fled Eritrea during its 30-year war for independence, and her experiences visiting family there helped shape her perspective on disability rights and accessibility across different cultures. 🔸 The communication system she developed at Harvard, using a keyboard and braille display, has since been adopted by other institutions and influenced technological adaptations for deafblind individuals. 🔸 She was named a White House Champion of Change by President Barack Obama in 2015 and has delivered speeches at prestigious venues including the World Economic Forum at Davos. 🔸 The title "Haben" means "pride" in Eritrean Tigrinya language, reflecting both her cultural heritage and her advocacy work emphasizing dignity and independence for people with disabilities.