BecomingHelen Keller Panel Oct 18 and PBS Documentary October 19

PBS is excited to announce that during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), it will premier the documentary, American Masters: Becoming Helen Keller. BECOMING HELEN KELLER premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 19 at 9 pm. Check your local PBS station to learn if it will be aired locally for you. Helen Keller first came into public view at a young age, soon after her teacher Anne Sullivan taught her to communicate. Though she lived until age 87 and became an accomplished writer and activist, Keller continues to be immortalized as a child. This film rediscovers the complex life and legacy of the human rights pioneer, who was deaf and blind since childhood, exploring how she used her celebrity and wit to advocate for social justice, particularly for women, workers, people with disabilities and people living in poverty. The documentary features narration by Rebecca Alexander; American Sign Language interpretation by Alexandria Wailes and Warren “WAWA” Snipe (who some may remember from the 2021 Super Bowl); as well as audio description and closed captioning.

 

On Monday, October 18th, at 7pm ETD, a virtual panel event will include highlights from the documentary, American Masters: Becoming Helen Keller, followed by a conversation about Helen Keller's trailblazing advocacy and the evolution of the disability rights movement with  Kirk Adams, President and CEO, American Foundation for the Blind; Alexandria Wailes, actor and dancer; and Kathi Wolfe, writer and poet; moderated by Rebecca Alexander, author, psychotherapist and disability rights advocate. Visit the event's Eventbrite page to register and for more information. 

 

This panel event is presented by The WNET Group in collaboration with PBS stations Alabama Public Television, Iowa PBS, WCNY, WFYI, WGCU Public Media, WQED, WQLN Public Media and WXXI. Open-captions and American Sign Language interpretation will be provided throughout the event. Basic and descriptive transcripts will be available upon request. The WNET Group and our partner stations are committed to creating inclusive spaces.