Haben Girma is a woman whose name is synonymous with exceptionality. Having spent the majority of her life devoid of two critical senses – namely her hearing and eyesight – she was faced with more challenges than most children would ever have to tackle. However, instead of letting society push her into the background, she made sure to stand out in every conceivable way. Viewing the challenges created by her disability as opportunities to innovate, she became the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, a recipient of the Hellen Keller Achievement Award, Forbes’ choice for 30 Under 30, and President Obama’s White House Champion of Change.
Growing up different from the other children around her, Haben spent her school years proving that she could do just as much as her peers, without needing copious amounts of special treatment. With the help of accessible technology, she was able to graduate from Skyline High School, and later Lewis & Clark. Despite the education system not knowing how to properly tutor her – and often expecting her to fail as a result – Haben would go on to earn her J.D in 2013 and become the first Deafblind student to ever graduate from Harvard Law School. From here, she’d earn herself a place as a staff attorney for the Disability Rights Advocates, representing those just like her.
To Haben, becoming a lawyer was the best way for her to carve out a place for disabled individuals in a world designed for able-bodied people. Primarily promoting access to books and digital information for persons with disabilities, she’s never given up in her pursuit of a better tomorrow. As a result, she’s had the chance to represent the National Federation of the Blind, challenge TED on their failure to provide readily available captions for their TEDx talks, receive a position as the Hellen Keller Services for the Blind’s National Board of Trustees, and give a talk on accessible design at none other than the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference.
Now, Haben is a full-time keynote speaker and advocate for disability justice. Whether through her award-winning book “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law”, her talks for Apple, Bottega Veneta, Disney, Gartner, Google, Microsoft, Oxford University, and more, or her position as the World Health Organization’s Commissioner, she proudly serves as a shining example of what disabled individuals can accomplish. Engaging, witty, and a delight to listen to, Haben Girma is a world-famous keynote speaker whose story of defying expectations makes for an exceptional experience. Hire her via Champions Speakers to get your audiences inspired about the exciting new world Haben is helping to shape (featuring a guest appearance from her lovely Seeing Eye dog Mylo).
How to hire Haben Girma
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Haben Girma for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Haben Girma's official speaking topics are listed below:
- Increasing Disability Access in Education
- Overcoming Challenges and Fighting for Change
- The Universal Benefits of Accessible Design
- Removing Access Bariers for Students
Official Feedback from In-Person & Online Events
Official Feedback from In-Person Events
“Thank you so much, Haben, for that amazing introduction, and for working to make sure that students with disabilities get a world-class education, just like you have. So please give Haben a big round of applause.” - Barack Obama, Former President of the USA
“She got out of Harvard, and you know what she’s doing? She is an advocate for opportunities for people with disabilities. Because in fact they have enormous ability, and all over the world that ability is going untapped, diminishing their lives and the rest of ours as well. So let’s give her a big round!” - Bill Clinton, Former President of the USA
“I wish to take this opportunity, as well, to recognize you for your lifelong advocacy for people with disabilities, especially for the deaf-blind community. As a teacher and Prime Minister, I am particularly grateful for your work to ensure that students with disabilities have access to the tools they need to thrive at school and beyond. When our society is inclusive, we are all better off.” - Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
- 2023 – Appointed as a Commissioner for the World Health Organization’s new Commission on Social Connection, working to address global loneliness and isolation.
- 2020 – Published The Robots Occupying Our Sidewalks in TechCrunch and What the ADA Means to Me in The New York Times, advocating for disability rights.
- 2019 – Released her bestselling memoir, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, chronicling her journey as the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law and her global advocacy.
- 2019 – Published Guide dogs don’t lead blind people. We wander as one. in The Washington Post, offering insights into disability and independence.
- 2018 – Wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post advocating against the removal of Helen Keller from the Texas school curriculum, contributing to the board’s reversal.
- 2017 – Named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Africans by New African magazine.
- 2017 – Published People with Disabilities Drive Innovation in Financial Times, highlighting how disability fuels technological progress.
- 2016 – Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Law & Policy for her impact on disability rights.
- 2016 – Spoke at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on the importance of accessible design.
- 2015 – Met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House for the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and delivered introductory remarks.
- 2015 – Appointed to the national board of trustees for Helen Keller Services for the Blind.
- 2014 – Gave a TEDxBaltimore talk and later challenged TED to provide captions for all TEDx talks, including her own.
- 2014 – Represented the National Federation of the Blind in a landmark lawsuit against Scribd, which resulted in a ruling that the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to online businesses.
- 2013 – Became the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School.
- 2013 – Recognized by the Obama administration as a Champion of Change for her disability advocacy.
