A joint resolution to authorize and request the President to proclaim June 27, 1980, as "Helen Keller Day".
PL 96-278 (S.J.Res.127), enacted 06/17/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-278—JUNE 17, 1980 
94 STAT. 547 
Public Law 96-278 
96th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To authorize and request the President to proclaim June 27,1980, as "Helen Keller 
Day". 
Whereas, Helen Keller was left incurably blind and deaf at the age 
of nineteen months; 
Whereas, through her own determination and faith, and through 
the patience and understanding of her devoted teacher, Anne 
Sullivan, Helen Keller overcame the disability of blindness and 
deafness, became fluent in the use of sign language, mastered the 
Braille alphabet, and learned to speak; 
Whereas, after her personal victory over her disabilities, Helen 
Keller turned her life and ambitions to the services of others, 
demonstrating to the world that her disabilities were minor com-
pared to her talent and abilities; 
Whereas, for more than a half century, Helen Keller has been a 
sjmabol of courage and faith serving to encourage and benefit 
millions of her fellow handicapped in America and throughout 
the world, serving to educate the nonhandicapped to the poten-
tial of handicapped persons; 
Whereas, with limitless stamina and energy, Helen Keller dedi-
cated her life to others, giving unceasingly—speaking, writing, 
traveling, and working constantly to improve the conditions of 
deaf and blind people; 
Whereas, as counselor to the American Foundation for the Blind, 
she guided programs to advance economic, cultural, and societal 
opportunities of deaf and blind persons throughout the United 
States and w£is instrumental in launching a new era of work to 
advance these opportunities; 
Whereas, through the Helen Keller World Crusade for the Blind, 
Helen Keller inspired programs for the education and rehabilita-
tion of blind persons around the globe and became the primary 
force which led to increased awareness of the problems faced by 
the handicapped; 
Whereas, wherever she went Helen Keller was received with a 
massive outpouring of love and admiration, being honored by 
heads of state, and being acclaimed by all; 
Whereas, Helen Keller's spirit will endure as long as man can read 
and stories can be told of the woman who showed the world that 
there are no boundaries to courage and faith; and 
Whereas, June 27, 1980, marks the one hundredth anniversary of 
Helen Keller's birth in Tuscumbia, Alabama: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the 
United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 
June 17, 1980 
[S.J. Res. 127] 
Helen Keller 
Day. 
Designation 
authorization. 
94 STAT. 548 
PUBLIC LAW 96-278—JUNE 17, 1980 
designating June 27,1980, as "Helen Keller Day" and encouraging 
appropriate Government agencies to foster the recognition of the 
significance of Helen Keller's achievements on that day with appro-
priate ceremonies, programs, and activities. 
Approved June 17, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-566 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
Feb. 19, considered and passed Senate. 
June 5, considered and passed House.