User:Megalibrarygirl/Helen Levin

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Helen Phillips Levin (c. 1925 - January 1985) was

Biography[edit]

Levin grew up in Minneapolis and married Jack Levin in 1941.[1] After World War II, the couple moved to Los Angeles.[1] She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).[1] Levin contracted polio in 1951 and complications from the virus caused her to become paralyzed.[1] She went through physical therapy and learned new ways to run the household and take care of her children.[1]

In 1976, Levin began to volunteer for the Westside Community for Independent Living (now the Disability Community Resource Center).[1][2] In addition, she went back to school, applying at the University of Southern California (USC).[1] Levin was one of the school's first disabled students.[3]

Levin, along with family, friends and help from the city, donated a building for the Westside Community for Independent Living in 1977.[2] The building is now named the Phillips Levin building in her honor.[2] She was appointed to the Los Angeles Architectural Barriers Committee and became the chair during 1978 and 1979.[1] In 1981, Levin earned her masters degree in social work.[3] After earning her degree, she went to work as a staff therapist for the Suicide Prevention Center's Life Clinic.[1]

Levin died in her home in January of 1985 after suffering respiratory problems.[4] In 2014, USC established a scholarship in her name.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gindick, Tia (1983-05-09). "Neither Polio Nor the Doldrums Have Slowed Down Helen Levin". The Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-07-02 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) and "Levin: Polio, Doldrums Couldn't Stop Her". The Los Angeles Times. 1983-05-09. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-07-02 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) and "Polio: Nothing Could Stop Helen Levin". The Los Angeles Times. 1983-05-09. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-07-02 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c "History". Disability Community Resource Center. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  3. ^ a b c Gallo, Eliza (2014-02-12). "Disabled student scholarship inspired by alumna". USC News. Retrieved 2020-07-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Gindick, Tina (1985-01-10). "Helen Levin; Quadriplegic Who Worked to Help Others". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-07-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[edit]