DESCRIPTION: This video contains descriptions for the visually impaired
Haben looking off camera, lights in background
HABEN GIRMA: So many people have a low expectations for those of us with
disabilities.
DESCRIPTION: Haben reading braille They see the disability and think
that's the whole story.
Haben looking and smiling to camera
HABEN GIRMA: But we're complex.
My name is Haben Girma.
I'm an advocate for people with disabilities.
DESCRIPTION: Photo: Haben wearing a cap and gown, receiving her diploma
at graduation from Harvard Law
HABEN GIRMA: I graduated from Harvard Law in 2013.
DESCRIPTION: Haben at Riverdale Country School with an audience of
students behind her
HABEN GIRMA: And I use my skills and talents to remove barriers.
DESCRIPTION: Haben greeting audience at the podium
HABEN GIRMA: Good morning.
DESCRIPTION: Haben and her guide dog standing on steps
HABEN GIRMA: I'm a woman. I'm a person of color.
I'm the daughter of refugees and I'm deafblind.
DESCRIPTION: Text: Harvard Laws first deaf, blind graduate disrupting
disability rights
Haben talking to camera
HABEN GIRMA: As a deaf blind person in a sighted hearing world, I
struggled to find a system that works well for me to
communicate with people.
DESCRIPTION: Text: Haben developed her own communication system
Haben reading braille
HABEN GIRMA: Text: She uses a wireless keyboard and BrailleNote computer
designed by Humanware
DESCRIPTION: I discovered that if I connect a braille computer with a
keyboard, I can easily connect with people.
Reporter laughs while talking to Haben
HABEN GIRMA: Most people don't know sign language, but know how to type
DESCRIPTION: Haben reading braille Person typing
HABEN GIRMA: As people are speaking, I'm reading their words on braille
through my fingers.
DESCRIPTION: Haben on keyboard reading braille
HABEN GIRMA: Over the years I've heard of other deaf blind people also
using the system.
DESCRIPTION: Text: Haben also travels with her guide dog.
Mylo sitting beside Haben
HABEN GIRMA: With me is a small German shepherd.
His name is Mylo.
He was trained at The Seeing Eye in Morristown, New Jersey.
It's like the "Harvard" of guide dog schools.
And now he travels the world with me.
DESCRIPTION: Mylo and Haben walking in Paris, France, with L'Arc de
Triomphe in front of them
HABEN GIRMA: Sometimes people wonder why would a blind person travel?
DESCRIPTION: Haben scaling a wall at the City Museum in St.
Louis, Missouri
HABEN GIRMA: There's so much to feel and experience and taste.
DESCRIPTION: Haben eating on onigiri
Haben partner dancing at a salsa club
HABEN GIRMA: I love partner dancing.
I can't hear the beat or see the other dancers, but I can
feel the beat through the hands and shoulders of the people
I'm dancing with. When I went to Hawaii, I went surfing in
the wonderful warm water.
DESCRIPTION: Haben riding a wave in Waikiki, Hawaii
HABEN GIRMA: I reached out to several surf schools and they told me
we've never heard of a deaf blind surfer.
And then I found one surf school that said, let's find a
way, let's figure it out.
The instructor surfed side by side.
Disability is rarely the problem.
The problem is often society creating arbitrary barriers.
And we all need to work together to remove those barriers.
DESCRIPTION: Text: Haben is also an aspiring comedian.
She attends classes at Faceoff Unlimited in Astoria, Queens
in New York City Haben laughing with the improv group
HABEN GIRMA: I have been thinking about taking improper workshops for a
long time. Humor is a powerful tool to help people feel
comfortable.
DESCRIPTION: Text: The comedy company created a special class after
reading that Haben was turned away in her search for
inclusive improv
Haben interacting with her improv group
HABEN GIRMA: As a person with a disability, I can help a non-disabled
person relax.
DESCRIPTION: Haben rehearsing with her improv group
HABEN GIRMA: We're more likely to connect and get past ableism and
stereotypes.
DESCRIPTION: Haben's braille typist, Halley, typing to Haben
Text: Haben also has assistance from her braille typist so
she knows what each person is saying
Arrow pointing to Halley
Haben's improv partner speaks
HABEN'S IMPROV PARTNER: I know there's a very large contract you have to sign.
I didn't read it.
DESCRIPTION: Haben talking to her improv partner
HABEN GIRMA: I'm still thinking about the fact that you didn't read the
contract.
DESCRIPTION: Crowd laughs Text: Haben finished Harvard Law in 2013.
She is the first and only deafblind graduate from Harvard
Law. Photo: Haben with her parents on graduation day at
Harvard
HABEN GIRMA: My parents had high expectations for me and that taught me
to also have high expectations for myself.
I decided to become an attorney and then I was in college.
DESCRIPTION: Haben walking with Halley and Riverdale Country School
staff into auditorium.
HABEN GIRMA: I noticed that when I use the Americans with Disabilities
Act to remove barriers, it changed the whole culture and I
wanted to continue doing that.
DESCRIPTION: Auditorium filling with students in bleachers
HABEN GIRMA: I can't let fear control my life, I'm going to instead
focus on what I can do.
DESCRIPTION: Haben talking to audience
HABEN GIRMA: Sign language is a form of innovation.
I was told that if I wanted to get a job as an attorney, I
needed to go to the best school possible, so I applied to
Harvard, even though I thought I probably wouldn't get in.
It was worth a shot just to try.
DESCRIPTION: Students in auditorium clapping
HABEN GIRMA: I learned that I got in and I was thrilled.
DESCRIPTION: Haben showing her keyboard to the auditorium
HABEN GIRMA: Now I travel around the world teaching organizations to
invest in accessibility.
DESCRIPTION: Haben shakes a student's hand
Text: Haben is an advocate for accessibility in
technological advances
HABEN GIRMA: The majority of apps are not accessible.
DESCRIPTION: Haben typing on her keyboard
HABEN GIRMA: We keep asking engineers, developers design with access in
mind.
DESCRIPTION: Haben texting her friend Gordon
IPHONE: "Reply button"
HABEN GIRMA: Because it drives innovation, drives revenue and benefits
all of us in the long run.
DESCRIPTION: Text: "Don't call me inspirational"
Haben skiing with guide
HABEN GIRMA: People with disabilities get called "inspirational" all the
time,
DESCRIPTION: President Obama giving Haben a hug in the White House
HABEN GIRMA: My response is, what are you inspired to do?
Allow that emotion to drive change.
Disability is not the biggest barrier.
The biggest barrier is people telling me "you can't do
something."
DESCRIPTION: Haben speaking at the president's address
HABEN GIRMA: Ask people and hold them accountable.
Allow me to share a story.
DESCRIPTION: Panoramic portrait shot of Haben
HABEN GIRMA: All of my success shows what is possible when we create
inclusive communities and give kids with disabilities an
opportunity from the start.
Inclusion is a choice.
DESCRIPTION: CNBC Make It end credits