The University is hosting its inaugural Disability Pride Week from April 18-22. In celebration, the Disability Cultural Center is sponsoring a talk with Haben Girma, the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School and a disability rights advocate.
In advance of her virtual talk on April 21, at 7:30 p.m., here are three additional things to know about Haben:
She’s an author.
Haben’s recent memoir, “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law,” details her experience traveling the world, including to Eritrea and Ethiopia where her parents are from, to search for the secret of belonging and connection. The book was named “New and Noteworthy” from the New York Times, a “Book of the Month” favorite by Oprah Magazine and a Publishers Weekly Bestseller.
She’s been recognized for her disability rights advocacy work from Forbes to the White House.
As a disability rights advocate, Haben has been recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, as well as named a White House Champion of Change. Her expertise has been featured on BBC, NBC, Forbes, NPR, GOOD Magazine, the Washington Post and more.
She defines disability as an opportunity for innovation.
Haben witnessed advocates using the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to increase opportunities and access for people with disabilities, inspiring her to join them. She believes that disability is an opportunity for innovation and educates organizations of the benefits of prioritizing accessibility to improve the digital experience for both disabled and non-disabled users.