Haben Girma Profile Photo

Haben Girma

Keynote Speaker

First Deafblind Graduate of Harvard Law School and Bestselling Author

Haben Girma, the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, is a human rights lawyer who advocates for disability justice. She sees disability as a catalyst for innovation, educating organizations on the importance of inclusion, and has garnered international recognition for her transformative work.

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Haben Girma Profile Photo

The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma has made her mark as an advocate for disability justice. Recognized as a White House Champion of Change by President Obama, her accolades also include the Helen Keller Achievement Award, a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and selection for the TIME100 Talks. International leaders like President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Chancellor Angela Merkel have all honored Haben. She champions the idea that disability should be seen as a catalyst for innovation and educates organizations on the importance of inclusion. The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and TODAY Show have featured her memoir, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.

Haben was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she currently lives. Her memoir takes readers on adventures around the world, including her parents’ homes in Eritrea and Ethiopia, building a school under the scorching Saharan sun, training with a guide dog in New Jersey, climbing an iceberg in Alaska, fighting for blind readers at a courthouse in Vermont, and talking with President Obama at The White House. Her book is not just a record of her resilience; it’s a heartfelt, humorous, reflective, and uplifting account that stands as a tribute to her relentless quest for human connection.

Featured Videos

Haben Girma Profile Photo
Haben Girma

Haben Girma on Allyship

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Haben Girma

Haben Girma on Becoming a Lawyer

Haben Girma Profile Photo
Haben Girma

Haben Girma on Disability Driving Innovation

Haben Girma’s Speech Topics

  • Accessibility: A Conversation with Haben Girma

    New questions about accessibility emerge as society and technology evolve. How do engineers harness the power of AI without excluding disabled people? How do marketing teams craft compelling videos that reach disabled customers? How do HR teams remove barriers so talented employees with disabilities can help the organization drive innovation? During this fireside chat style presentation, Haben Girma will address questions tailored to your organization. She will combine personal anecdotes, extensive knowledge from the field, and her warm wit to deliver an unforgettable presentation.

  • Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

    As a Deafblind child in a sighted-hearing world, Haben Girma faced the choice of accepting barriers or advocating for justice. Her self-advocacy soon grew to advocating for others, leading her to sharpen her skills at Harvard Law and beyond. She champions the belief that challenges are opportunities to develop new, better solutions. Through powerful stories infused with humor, Girma’s presentations help audiences increase creative problem-solving. 

  • Gaining the Innovation Advantage

    What do iPhones, Jacuzzis, and audiobooks have in common? The brilliance of disabled people sparked the creation of countless products, and the above are just three of them. As a Deafblind woman living in a mostly inaccessible world, Haben Girma has developed stellar innovative skills that allows her to dance past barriers. Many disabled people similarly have strong problem-solving skills that launch cutting edge inventions. Reports by Accenture have shown that companies leading in accessible hiring, marketing, and design outperform their competitors. The global accessibility market, disabled people and their communities purchasing accessible products and services, is worth over $13 trillion annually. Organizations that prioritize accessibility benefit by tapping into a larger market, improving the experience for both disabled and nondisabled people, boosting brand loyalty, and increasing innovation. Girma’s keynotes share entertaining stories from her personal journey, sprinkled with delightful humor, and wisdom that helps build stronger, more innovative communities.

  • Leadership & Advocacy

    The daughter of refugees, a Black woman, and disabled, Haben developed a powerful path to success, rooted in her belief that inclusion is a choice. We all have the power to advocate for positive change. Becoming a leader begins by role-modeling the change we need in this world. Haben provides valuable insights that help people become better leaders. 

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