Haben Girma
Human Rights Lawyer and First Deafblind Graduate of Harvard Law School
Haben Girma is a disability rights advocate who has built her path to success on the belief that inclusion is a choice. She has worked with various organisations and institutions to promote disability rights and to ensure that technology and information are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their abilities. In 2023, Haben was appointed by the WHO as the Commissioner on Social Connection! The WHO established this new Commission because loneliness and social isolation impact public health around the globe.
"Named White House Champion of Change"
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Haben received the Helen Keller Achievement Award, a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and TIME100 Talks. President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chancellor Angela Merkel have all honoured her. Disabled people are the largest historically underrepresented group, numbering over one billion worldwide. Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation and teaches organisations how to embrace inclusion. The New York Times, Oprah Magazine and TODAY Show featured her memoir, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law. Her refugee story inspired her to embark on a quest for knowledge, traveling the world in search of the secret to belonging.
WHAT she OFFERS YOU
Haben is a talented storyteller who helps people frame difference as an asset. She resisted society's low expectations, choosing to create her own pioneering story. She shares with audiences worldwide her incredible life story and her amazing journey from isolation to the world stage (and standing ovations).