Most school age children whether sighted, blind or visually impaired have heard of Helen Keller. But who has ever heard of Laura Bridgman, a young girl who preceded Helen at the Perkins Institute by a half century. But first a little more about this courageous young girl who cries to be known and the principles she employed. Laura Bridgman is her name. She is the first deaf/blind person to ever learn language. She, like Helen, became known around the world with her abilities of speaking with friends by writing or sometimes referred to as "signing" in their hands. Helen was not the first. Unfortunately the story of Laura was just starting to be known in the early 1900's. By then the world was starting to hear of Helen. If one wants to learn more about Laura Bridgman and the effect and affect she had on the blind and visually impaired community check out the book "[U][I]The Education of Laura Bridgman: First Deaf / Blind person to learn language[/I][/U]. In fact Charles Dickens wrote about Laura in his [U]American Notes[/U]. More to follow about the effects of Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller on the children and young adults who become associated with The Blind Judo Foundation and learn the Tenets of Judo. It changes their lives for the better.