Dr Helen Keller visited Scotland in 1933 to give a lecture tour. Historically, the fund awarded a prize to the best essay on deafblindness. Sense Scotland became trustees of the fund in 1989 and launched the new Helen Keller Award for the best submission on deafblindness in any medium. The first award was made in 1992 when some 60 submissions were made.
Entries are always diverse.
The Helen Keller Award 2000 was made in October 2000. The Helen Keller Award forms part of Sense Scotland's development of arts-based projects for people who are deafblind. Judges have discretion to make further commendations. Exhibition A selection of entries is exhibited at the award presentation and goes on public display for a period of time thereafter. Judging Judging is made prior to the award ceremony by a panel of independent judges from a range of backgrounds.