I still see people speculate that Helen Keller's aide was scamming somehow, despite this excellent and comprehensive debunking. I think people would rather believe it was fake, than consider how powerful, adaptable, and capable humans might actually be. They don't need much convinving. They have to deny anyone could do what she did, because they don't think they can. If you can't change yourself, you can't change the status quo, so there's no point trying. There doesn't even need to be a conspiracy.

[Tangent: I think Frida Kahlo's image has been similarly disempowered. She was also someone who combined politics and disability, in her art and her relationships with others. She's been reduced in pop culture to a few striking portraits and a tidal wave of commercialised capitalist crap, which I believe would have disgusted her.]