Haben Girma
![Haben Girma is an influencer]()
Award-winning advocate, keynote speaker & author of the bestselling book Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
San Francisco Bay Area
105K followers
500+ connections
About
The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is an award-winning advocate, author, and keynote speaker. She earned the Helen Keller Achievement Award, reached Forbes 30 under 30, and President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change. She believes disability challenges are opportunities for innovation, sparking new technologies that move society forward. Haben travels the globe teaching organizations how to build stronger, resilient, and more connected communities.
Her bestselling book Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law takes readers on adventures around the world, including training with a guide dog in New Jersey, climbing an iceberg in Alaska, fighting for blind readers at a courthouse in Vermont, and talking with President Biden and President Obama at The White House. Warm, funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, this captivating book shows how we can resist isolation and find the keys to connection. The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, TODAY Show, and Stephen Curry have all praised the book.
A spellbinding speaker, her keynotes have touched the stages of Apple, Bottega Veneta, Disney, Gartner, Google, Microsoft, Oxford University, and many more. Her engaging presentations ignite audiences to make positive changes in their communities. TIME included her as a speaker in TIME100 Talks.
In 2023 she became one of the first leaders appointed to serve as a Commissioner for the World Health Organization’s new Commission on Social Connection.
Haben was born and raised in California, where she currently lives. She travels with her Seeing Eye dog Mylo. He often falls asleep during her keynotes.
Website: https://habengirma.com
Email: contact@habengirma.com.
Articles by Haben
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It’s a boy! Meet Mylo, my new Seeing Eye dog.
It’s a boy! Meet Mylo, my new Seeing Eye dog.
“You just came back from dog jail, huh?” Aunt Nunu nudged my arm. I laughed.
107 Comments -
Voice, Sign, Type: The Lively Communication Dance
Voice, Sign, Type: The Lively Communication Dance
My friend Treshelle Edmond is a Deaf actress and phenomenal communicator. We met up after her performance in “Children…
6 Comments -
Maxine, the Sweetest, Smartest, Sneakiest Seeing Eye Dog
Maxine, the Sweetest, Smartest, Sneakiest Seeing Eye Dog
Maxine, the sweetest, smartest, sneakiest Seeing Eye Dog died on Monday April 16, 2018. Maxine loved wearing her…
115 Comments -
Houston, Prepare for Astronauts with Disabilities
Houston, Prepare for Astronauts with Disabilities
Chris Hadfield is a retired Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station. During one…
11 Comments -
People with Disabilities Drive Innovation
People with Disabilities Drive Innovation
Unbeknown to most employers, people with disabilities sparked the creation of many of the technologies we use today…
156 Comments -
Exploring Museum Accessibility in St. Louis
Exploring Museum Accessibility in St. Louis
Climbing the giant dome at the City Museum, every step brought a fun surprise! Because I'm Deafblind I climbed by…
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Announcing a Career Change: Switching to Education-Based Advocacy
Announcing a Career Change: Switching to Education-Based Advocacy
“There’s only one way to get to the top of a ladder, but there are many ways to get to the top of a jungle gym… The…
23 Comments
Activity
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I’m excited to deliver a keynote for the Foothill College Disability Awareness Month celebrations! Join us on Tuesday October 21 in Los Altos Hills…
I’m excited to deliver a keynote for the Foothill College Disability Awareness Month celebrations! Join us on Tuesday October 21 in Los Altos Hills…
Shared by Haben Girma
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Blind people can’t handle money, explained the bank manager refusing to let young Rajab Mpilipili open an account. Rajab advocated for himself but…
Blind people can’t handle money, explained the bank manager refusing to let young Rajab Mpilipili open an account. Rajab advocated for himself but…
Shared by Haben Girma
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If you’re in the Bay Area, check out Rachel’s upcoming talk on Oct 2 for her captivating memoir #Articulate. #ASL interpretation will be provided.
If you’re in the Bay Area, check out Rachel’s upcoming talk on Oct 2 for her captivating memoir #Articulate. #ASL interpretation will be provided.
Shared by Haben Girma
Experience
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Award-winning Author, Speaker, and Advocate for Disability Justice.
Haben Girma
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Disability Rights Advocates
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Legal Intern
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
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Legal Intern
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Education
Volunteer Experience
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Commissioner
WHO Commission on Social Connection
- Present 2 years 1 month
Health
Developing solutions to address the high rates of loneliness and isolation around the world.
Skills
Publications
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Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
Hachette Book Group
See publicationHaben was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she currently lives. Her memoir takes readers on adventures around the world, including her parents’ homes in Eritrea and Ethiopia, building a school under the scorching Saharan sun, training with a guide dog in New Jersey, climbing an iceberg in Alaska, fighting for blind readers at a courthouse in Vermont, and talking with President Obama at The White House. Warm, funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, this captivating book is a…
Haben was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she currently lives. Her memoir takes readers on adventures around the world, including her parents’ homes in Eritrea and Ethiopia, building a school under the scorching Saharan sun, training with a guide dog in New Jersey, climbing an iceberg in Alaska, fighting for blind readers at a courthouse in Vermont, and talking with President Obama at The White House. Warm, funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, this captivating book is a testament to Haben’s determination to resist isolation and find the keys to connection.
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People with Disabilities Drive Innovation
Financial Times, reposted on habengirma.com
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Frequently Asked Questions
HabenGirma.com
See publicationMy thoughtful, sometimes playful, answers to questions people often ask me.
Honors & Awards
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TIME 100 Talks
TIME Magazine
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The Helen Keller Achievement Award
American Foundation for the Blind
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Black Girls Rock Making A Difference Award
Black Girls Rock
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Outstanding Young Alumna Award
Lewis & Clark College
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100 Most Influential Africans 2017
New African Magazine
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Secret Strength Award
Secret
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Alexandrine Medal
Public Service
Named after the Egyptian scholar Catherine of Alexandria, St. Catherine University awards the Alexandrine Medal to women who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to public service. Past recipients include Dorothy Day, Ann Bancroft and Maya Angelou. I’m the youngest person to receive the Alexandrine Medal. Thank you, St. Catherine University!
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Pacific Standard's 30 Top Thinkers Under 30
Social Justice, Disability Rights Advocacy
http://www.psmag.com/books-and-culture/the-30-top-thinkers-under-30-haben-girma
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Forbes 30 under 30
Social Justice, Law & Policy
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The Root's 100 Influential African Americans of 2016
The Root
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The Tempest's 40 Women To Watch of 2016
The Tempest
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White House Champion of Change
Social Justice, Education
Languages
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
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Spanish
Elementary proficiency
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American Sign Language
Limited working proficiency
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Tigrinya
Elementary proficiency
Recommendations received
1 person has recommended Haben
Join now to viewMore activity by Haben
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A new hotel in France celebrates innovators, including Louis Braille! His bust appears in the lobby among other great innovators. The Ki SPACE Hotel…
A new hotel in France celebrates innovators, including Louis Braille! His bust appears in the lobby among other great innovators. The Ki SPACE Hotel…
Shared by Haben Girma
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