Haben Girma

Seeing Eye Dog Mylo Navigates Amsterdam

As cities embrace bicycles, let’s not forget pedestrians. Thousands of bikes parked on sidewalks in Amsterdam force pedestrians into streets where they face even more bikes. Seeing Eye dog Mylo rose to the challenge, and I felt safer having him by my side. It’s my hope city planners around the world design obstruction-free pedestrian pathways, … Read more

Haben Will be Speaking at the University of Hartford

On the left is the book cover for Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law. On the right is text: Connecticut, University of Hartford, Wednesday April 9th, 5 pm.

I am excited to deliver a keynote at the University of Hartford on April 9th! The university has generously opened up this event to all, and captioning & ASL interpretation will be provided. Free registration: Spring 2025 Rogow Distinguished Visiting Lecturer – University of Hartford

Advocating with Eric Dozier

Haben stands beside Eric, a Black man in his fifties with glasses, a gray beard, and a warm smile. In the background other people are enjoying conversations around a large room full of tables and chairs.

Eric Dozier is a cultural activist skillfully weaving stories and music to bring people together. He taught me the fascinating history behind Bob Marley’s song, “War.” Back in 1963 Emperor Haile Selassie spoke before the United Nations calling for the end of apartheid. Bob Marley adapted the speech into a song people still play today. … Read more

Dosa Cones Pair Perfectly with Ice Cream

Haben and her Seeing Eye dog walk out of a cafe with a rainbow welcome mat by the door. She has one hand on Mylo’s harness and the other holding a golden waffle cone topped with ice cream.

Dosa cones with heavenly ice cream keep me coming back to Koolfi Creamery. They have Indian-inspired flavors like mango lassi, as well as classics like cookies and cream. Their delicious dosa cones are vegan and gluten-free. You can find Koolfi Creamery in San Francisco and San Leandro, California. Descriptive Transcript Haben and her Seeing Eye … Read more

When Mentors Become Friends

Two women of color stand together smiling. Deepa wears a gold necklace over a gray top, dark yellow trousers, sunglasses, and holds her cane and iPhone in her left hand. Haben wears a denim jacket over a colorful dress and holds the leash of her Seeing Eye dog in her right hand. Behind them is a glass door reflecting the trees in front of the building.

Fighting discrimination from coast to coast, Deepa Goraya is a disability rights attorney. We met when she was a law student and I was in college wondering if I, too, could go to law school. Deepa generously answered my questions about law school as a blind student, sparking a wonderful friendship. She now lives in … Read more

While Blind People use Tech, the Creativity is Ours

Haben, Daniela, and her husband José stand together on a sunny sidewalk. Haben wears a blue dress, Daniela wears a green shirt and jeans, and José wears a Navy blue shirt, khakis, and an Apple Watch. Next to German Shepherd Mylo is Rosie, a black lab, and beside José sits a yellow lab sweetly looking at the camera. Behind the smiling group, across the street, is a warm restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.

Some sighted people assume screenreaders and other disability tech does all the work for blind people. Instead of saying “Carla wrote the report”, her manager simply says “she used a screenreader”, as if credit for the report rests with the screenreader. This kind of messaging impacts our hiring and advancement opportunities. When discussing disabled people … Read more

Haben Girma and Mychal Threets: The Mental Health and Disability Connection

Thank you to the Berkeley Public Library for hosting this conversation between Haben Girma and Mychal Threets! This clip is an excerpt from the library’s YouTube page. Video description Haben, Mychal, and an ASL interpreter sit in the front of a large room. Haben, a black woman in her 30s, wears a colorful flowing dress. … Read more

Eating at Ziryab, a Deaf-owned restaurant in Barcelona

Haben signs with the waitress Madona at Ziryab restaurant

Disabled people bring innovative thinking to organizations, and disabled-owned businesses spark unforgettable experiences. Ziryab hires Deaf and hearing employees, and one of the owners is Deaf. It’s an extremely popular restaurant in Barcelona. Why do you think that is? Descriptive Transcript Haben and her Seeing Eye dog walk along a flagstone, pedestrian street past a … Read more

Sensory Gardens: Ireland vs Sweden

Dreaming of a garden oasis? Allow me to share my experiences visiting the Garden for the Blind in Dublin, Ireland, and a sensory garden in Lund, Sweden. Each one teaches an accessibility feature communities can add to create beautiful, multisensory gardens.   Descriptive Transcript Haben wears a short-sleeved navy blue dress, with her elbow resting … Read more

Learn Accessibility Skills at the Teach Access Student Academy

Teach Access Student Academy. Free 2 day virtual workshop on accessibility! Thursday, February 20th & Friday, February 21st. Whether you're new to accessibility or looking to deepen your understanding, this workshop will empower you to create a more accessible world! Students of all kinds are welcome. Sponsored by verizon, google, salesforce, meta, and Merck.

Increase your accessibility skills through the Teach Access Student Academy, a free virtual workshop on February 20 and 21. Descriptive Transcript Haben Girma, a Black woman in her thirties, stands in front of a blue wall. Haben: Do you want to learn more about accessibility? Teach Access is hosting a Student Academy. It’s free, it’s … Read more