Haben Girma (born July 29, 1988)[1][2] is an American disability rights advocate, and the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School.
In a news article Girma states, "I was frequently left out of the spotlight, unable to fully engage in a world that seemed to forget I existed.
[7] Growing up in the United States, Girma benefited from civil rights laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
[9] Girma attended Lewis & Clark College, where she successfully advocated for her legal rights to accommodations in the school cafeteria.
[13] Scribd moved to dismiss, arguing that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) only applied to physical locations.
[17] On July 20, 2015, Girma met with US President Barack Obama at the White House to highlight the importance of accessible technology.
[20][21] In 2018, The Washington Post published an op-ed by Girma directed at the Texas State Board of Education, which had voted to remove Helen Keller from the social studies curriculum.
[24][25] Girma enjoys participating in physical activities including surfing, rock climbing, kayaking, cycling, and dancing.