She recognized that Helen Keller, her student who was deaf and blind, was cut off from the world because she had no way to understand or express herself. Sullivan believed that by teaching Helen sign language and eventually reading and writing, she could open a world of knowledge and understanding to her.
This approach is reflected in her famous quote: "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
Sullivan understood that language wasn't just about communication, but about connecting with the world, forming concepts, and building understanding.
This belief in the power of language was the foundation of her successful teaching of Helen Keller and continues to be an important principle in education today.