quote [ Although his name is not widely known today, Samuel Gridley Howe was a bold, 19th-century activist who fought for a wide range of social causes. During his lifetime, he worked to abolish slavery, to protect the mentally ill, and to improve the American prison system. A man of great passion and conviction. Howe pursued each cause with energy and enthusiasm. But he made his biggest impact in the field of education, where he was an outspoken advocate for the rights of students who were blind and/or disabled. ]