She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a sense of isolation, struggling with a new skill, or expressing curiosity about how people navigate the world differently. This biography tells the remarkable true story of Laura Bridgman, the first deaf-blind person to receive a formal education in the United States. Through her journey at the Perkins Institution, the book explores profound themes of grit, the human need for connection, and the breakthrough of language. Appropriate for middle-grade readers, the story provides a necessary historical perspective on disability that predates the famous Helen Keller. Parents will appreciate the way it fosters empathy and highlights how curiosity can bridge even the widest gaps in communication. It is a testament to human resilience that encourages children to value their own persistence.