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[THEME SONG BEGINS]
>>RACHEL: Good morning, it's time for Chompers, your morning and night toothbrushing show.
Today our friend Jasmine is here with a special interview. Jasmine, take it away.
>>JASMINE:Thanks! We’re back with Haben Girma, the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law.
Start brushing on the top of your mouth on one side, and brush the inside, outside and chewing side of each tooth.
Count us in Haben!
>>HABEN: 3, 2, 1 brush!
[MUSIC BEGINS]
>>JASMINE: Haben I heard that you got to meet President Obama.
[TYPING SOUNDS]
>>HABEN: I met President Barack Obama to talk about disability rights. Disability rights is the idea that even if you're different your voice still matters. President Obama and I both went to Harvard Law School (laughing) at different times, but we both studied to learn how to help how to lift up and support other people.
>>JASMINE: Switch your brushing to the other side of the top of your mouth…
[SWITCH BELL]
>>JASMINE: -and keep brushing. And did you make a lot of friends while you were at Harvard Law?
[TYPING SOUNDS]
>>HABEN: At Harvard Law School I made a lot of friends. Because at that point people are comfortable with who they are. When I was in middle school and high school it was really hard to make friends because everyone was concerned about being cool. As people grow older they become happy with the way they are. And it becomes easier to build friendships with people.
[MUSIC ENDS]
>>JASMINE: Switch your brushing to the bottom of your mouth…
[SWITCH BELL]
>>JASMINE: -and brush your front teeth too.
[MUSIC BEGINS]
>>JASMINE: So, do you have any advice for young kids, who maybe don’t feel cool or feel different?
[TYPING SOUNDS]
>>HABEN: So when I was young I was really interested in being normal. Later as I grew up I realized, normal is boring. We're all different in some way. And that difference is what makes us interesting. There is no such thing as normal. Everyone is different.
>>JASMINE: Switch your brushing to the other side of the bottom of your mouth…
[SWITCH BELL]
>> JASMINE: -and give your tongue brush too. What are some ways that kids can be advocates for disability rights?
[TYPING SOUNDS]
>> HABEN: An advocate asks questions, so you can ask your teacher, "Is this accessible to people with disabilities?" Get people thinking about accessibility.
>>JASMINE: So when you're not being an advocate for disability rights, what do you do for fun?
[TYPING SOUNDS]
>>HABEN: I love dancing, swing, salsa. I also really love reading books. I recently wrote a book: It's called Haben: the Deaf Blind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.
[MUSIC ENDS]
[THEME SONG BEGINS]
>>JASMINE: That’s all the time we have today for Chompers. Special thanks to Haben Girma, Gordon, and Milo. If you want to learn more about Haben visit habengirma.com. Haben, count us out!
>>HABEN: 3-2-1 Spit.
[THEME SONG ENDS]
>>RACHEL: Chompers is a production of Gimlet Media.