Haben Girma: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard

In Deep with Angie Coiro: Interviews

Show #251 | Guest: Haben Girma | Show Summary: Haben Girma, daughter of refugees and the first Deafblind woman to graduate from Harvard Law, has been honored for her activist work by President Obama, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Raised by two Eritrean refugee parents who survived a 30-year war, Haben learned to value courage and community early. In her lifetime so far, she has traveled the globe, mastered non-visual techniques for navigating both salsa and the electric saw, climbed an iceberg and faced a bull, and attained the prestigious degree that helps her advocate for increased access and equity for disabled persons. She does this all, joyfully, using innovations that allow her to move readily through abled spaces as a deaf and blind woman.
Angie sits down with Haben to discuss her brilliant new book Haben: The Deafblind Women Who Conquered Harvard Law.