She died at the age of 87 in Westport, Connecticut. She had been blind and deaf since being struck down with (what is thought to be) scarlet fever at 19 months.

In her life she became a world renowned writer and lecture (her lectures were delivered through an interpreter).

She was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, the USA's highest civilian award, for her work with the blind.

Helen Keller wrote:

"My life has been happy because I have had wonderful friends and plenty of interesting work to do."

"I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times, but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers. The wind passes, and the flowers are content."