The Disabled and Ham Radio

[M1EYA]

What have been your experiences as a disabled operator. When I decided to change from being an SWL to a licenced ham, I am a full class 'B' licence holder, I advertised for help through he RSGB, the help was unbeliveable, and within 6 months I had got my licence, it is wonderful when the radio community help those less fortunet than themselves. I suffer from poly-arthritis and am also diabetic. At the moment morse is difficult for me as I have difficulty handleing a key, but I will get there. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ka1kjz]

Though not disabled myself, we in the states have the Handi Hams program, where they specialize in that sort of thing.

Also in Connecticut, we have an incredible amount of blind amateurs (99% women), all traffic handlers, probably the one aspect of this hobbby where eyesight is absolutely necessary.

[KC2JCA]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ka1kjz @ Aug. 08 2002,20:57)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Though not disabled myself, we in the states have the Handi Hams program, where they specialize in that sort of thing.

Also in Connecticut, we have an incredible amount of blind amateurs (99% women), all traffic handlers, probably the one aspect of this hobbby where eyesight is absolutely necessary.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>


I wouldn't think eyesight is ABSOLUTELY necessary to pass traffic. If you can recreate the document in Braille from CW, I don't see anything that would hinder the operation.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.


73, Jim - kc2jca
http://www.ocsparc.org

[n0xu]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ka1kjz @ Aug. 07 2002,21:57)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...probably the one aspect of this hobbby where eyesight is absolutely necessary.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Absolutely? Then how do they do it? If its absolutely necessary, then it would be impossible for them to handle traffic. Very challenging, to be sure, but not impossible.

[KD5TIF]

i am disabled with spine disc diease,it is hard but not impossible, i am now trying to learn cw with my sons help,he reads the letter off the computer screen as the sounds appear but the program i downloaded from the net has a terrible skip when it plays so i learn some letters fast others i learn from transworld radio code sheet that has the sound printed out, it might take longer but i will eventually get to upgrade,only wish i learned this back in the 60&quot;s instead of waiting so long, i am the only ham in my county and the closest club is 60 miles away and have no radio to listen to for practice,so i use the net which is a very outstanding place to find hard information and websites like qrz to explore all the possibilitys, being disabled might mean tough ways to do things but definitely not helpless, i cheer all who take the challenge and for those who think they can't you are wrong !! you can do it there are ways, a v.e.c. even came and picked me up so i could take my test, there is help and good hams are very much alive http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KG4RUL]

We have a nightly net on a wide area local repeater system that covers SC, GA and NC with occasional check-ins from other areas. #The net control for Saturday nights is a blind female operator. #She records all traffic on a braille machine and does all her readbacks from that source. #She also can hear calls that are totally unintelligible to my ears. #Ears are more important for some things than eyes.

Dennis - KG4RUL # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[AC7UX]

We have a guy here in phoenix that is a quadriplegic. I got him interested in amataer radio not long ago. he is able to just barely key a microphone. with alot of encouragement he studied for his tech. license. when he felt he was ready to pass the test we had a dilemma. how to get the test administered to him. we made some calls to some clubs around town and was able to get a team to go to his house to administer the test. he passed with ease,(KD7RNN is his call) and is now able to expand his world to include those around the state of arizona. he is now studying for his morse code test and with that passed will have the world opened up to him beyond the four walls that confine him. amateur radio provides a service in time of disasters, but also provides, for some, opportunities to experience what most take for granted.

[M1EYA]

I have been very impressed with the response to my original topic on the disabled and ham radio, as some have said there is no barrier that with courage and effort cannot be overcome. Here in the UK we have several societies who help amateurs, the leading one of which is the Radio Amateur Invalid and Blind Club (RAIBC), who helped me alot, and are now helping me get my morse, I will look forward to contacting you all when I get my 'A' licence. Good luck to you all, and keep trying

Richard M1EYA http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif