Haben Girma

Haben Girma, Keynote Speaker and Bestselling Author

In the Blue Room at the White House celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, President Barack Obama is standing by a table typing to Haben Girma using a white QWERTY keyboard. He’s wearing a charcoal suit with a blue tie and a smartwatch. Haben is across the table from him reading his words in Braille on her BrailleNote Apex. She’s wearing a sleeveless navy blue dress. Vice President Joe Biden and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett observe the interaction with interest. In the background, the room has a vibrant blue rug with gold star patterns and matching floor-length drapes. Painted portraits adorn the walls.

Book Haben Girma for Your Event

The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is an award-winning advocate, author, and keynote speaker. President Obama named her a Champion of Change, the French Ministry of Culture appointed her a Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and the World Health Organization selected her as an inaugural Commissioner for its Commission on Social Connection. She works with organizations worldwide to drive innovation, strengthen resilience, and deepen human connection.

Organizations such as Apple, Bottega Veneta, Disney, Gartner, Google, Microsoft, Oxford University, and Visa have invited her to deliver keynote presentations. TIME included her in TIME100 Talks.

#How do I book Haben Girma to speak at my event?

To hire Haben Girma, email contact@habengirma.com to request availability and speaking fee information. Please include your event date, location, and audience.

#Where can I find a video of Haben Girma speaking?

The video has over 1.7 million views across Instagram and TikTok.

Video: Haben stands at a tall round table. She's wearing a light-blue dress. Her left hand rests on her Braillenote as she gestures with her left hand. Her expression is earnest as she speaks. Behind her is a bright blue backdrop.
Transcript

#Where can I find more information about her speaking topics and event details?

Visit the speaking page to explore speaking topics, formats, and details to help you plan your event.

Explore Speaking Details

Best-Selling Author

The book cover shows Haben Girma in profile, confidently facing forward in a blue dress. The background is a warm red, and white text over the bottom half of the image says, 'Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law. Haben Girma.'

The New York Times praised her best-selling book, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law. She demonstrates how constraints fuel innovation, crafting non-visual techniques for everything from dancing salsa to climbing an iceberg in Alaska. Her ingenuity led her to develop a speech-to-Braille communication system, opening a powerful new channel for Deafblind communication. The story takes readers on adventures around the world, including building a school in Mali, fighting for blind readers at a courthouse in Vermont, and meeting with President Obama and President Biden. Warm, funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, this captivating book is a testament to Haben's determination to resist isolation and find the keys to connection.

Latest Stories

More Stories