Theresa Poh Lin Chan
Encyclopedia
Chan Poh Lin also known as Theresa Poh Lin Chan, is a writer, teacher, and one-time actor. Born in Singapore
, she was known in her youth as "the Helen Keller
of Southeast Asia", as a reference to indicate that, like Keller, Chan is a highly accomplished deaf and blind person. Chan has been deaf since age 12, and deaf and blind since age 14.
In the United States
, Poh Lin Chan was educated at the Perkins School for the Blind
where she learned to understand and speak English and read Braille
as well as dancing, ice skating, knitting and horseback riding. While a student in the US, she attended the funeral of Helen Keller.
She is the subject of a 1964 BBC
radio documentary, "Child of the Silent Night: The story of Chan Poh Lin" by Stephen Grenfell. She also starred in the feature film, Be with Me
(2005), a Singaporean movie
in three parts. Chan is credited as a writer for the film as well, considered because her writings about her life were part of the inspiration for the film.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, she was known in her youth as "the Helen Keller
Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
of Southeast Asia", as a reference to indicate that, like Keller, Chan is a highly accomplished deaf and blind person. Chan has been deaf since age 12, and deaf and blind since age 14.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Poh Lin Chan was educated at the Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins School for the Blind, located in Watertown, Massachusetts, is the oldest schools for the blind in the United States. It has also been known as the Perkins Institution for the Blind.-History:...
where she learned to understand and speak English and read Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
as well as dancing, ice skating, knitting and horseback riding. While a student in the US, she attended the funeral of Helen Keller.
She is the subject of a 1964 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio documentary, "Child of the Silent Night: The story of Chan Poh Lin" by Stephen Grenfell. She also starred in the feature film, Be with Me
Be with Me
Be with Me is a 2005 Singaporean drama film directed by Eric Khoo. The film is inspired by the life of deaf-and-blind teacher Theresa Poh Lin Chan. It premiered as the Director's Fortnight selection in the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. It was also the official entry from Singapore for the 78th Academy...
(2005), a Singaporean movie
Cinema of Singapore
Despite having a flourishing Chinese and Malay film industry in the 1950s and 1960s, Singapore's film industry declined after independence in 1965. There were a few films that featured Singaporean actors and were set in Singapore, including Saint Jack and They Call Her Cleopatra Wong...
in three parts. Chan is credited as a writer for the film as well, considered because her writings about her life were part of the inspiration for the film.
Further reading
- Morgenstern, Joseph. "Chan Poh Lin, The Chinese Girl Of Eighteen, Who Can Neither See Nor Hear", World Health magazine, March–April 1962, pp. 29–31.