Maxine Makes the Cover of the ABA Journal!

Haben & Maxine on the cover of the ABA Journal

Maxine, the  little legal rebel, is on the cover of the ABA Journal! It’s America’s leading legal affairs magazine. ABA journalist Stephanie Ward wrote this wonderful article about my disability rights work. Image Description: Maxine, a German Shepherd guide dog, sits front and center. Around her neck is an orange bandana that says, “Legal Rebel.” … Read more

Videos: Black Girls Rock Making A Difference Award

BET and Black Girls Rock produced an amazing video celebrating my disability rights work. If you missed it on TV yesterday, you can watch it here. Also, here’s the video of actress Rutina Wesley honoring me with the Making A Difference Award. This award would not be possible without an incredible community of family and … Read more

Excited to be on the Black Girls Rock Awards Show

Haben smiles as she receives her diploma from Dean Martha Minow

I’m excited to announce that I will be on the Black Girls Rock Awards Show. Black Girls Rock is honoring me for Making A Difference. Solange, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Issa Rae, Roberta Flack, Yara Shahidi, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, and many other amazing women will be celebrated. Tune in to BET, the Black Entertainment Television … Read more

Calming Fears & Sparking Connections with the Abilities We Have

Calming Fears & Sparking Connections with the Abilities We Have | Haben Girma

My deafblindness can be isolating, so I actively develop ways to connect with people. One solution is to offer people a keyboard paired with my braille computer, and as they type I’m able to easily read their words in braille. But what if a person who wants to talk to me has dyslexia?

During the Q&A after my keynote at The Shine in Los Angeles, a young man came on stage to ask me how I connect with people. The video above captures that fun conversation, including an audience laughing at our playful banter.