Help for Challenged Hams
Introduction to resources
for challenged Hams
By Eric Bechtel, AE7UF
One in Five Americans (56.7 million)*
Disability: A physical or mental condition that
limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.
*2010 United States Census
• 8.1 million had difficulty seeing
• 2 million blind or unable to see
Accessible Equipment Manuals
From DX Zone:
• Adobe PDF Accessibility for the Blind
• MFJ Product Manuals
• ICanWorkThisThing.com
http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=28192
• Remotehams User’s Manual for Blind Hams
http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=28196
Equipment
ARRL articles about equipment to help the visually impaired.
• Device providing audible SWR indication
• Light detector with varying pitch according to light
• Talking Wattmeter
• Audible Frequency Readout
• Audible Current Meter
• Morse Readout for Your Digital Dial
http://www.arrl.org/access-to-amateur-radio-for-the-disabled
Equipment Continued
• Relative-Indication Audible Meter Reader
• Oscilloscope for the Blind that uses rise and fall of pitch to indicate
various wave shapes.
https://www.seeingwithsound.com/voiscope.htm
Articles
Four articles about amateur radio and blindness each month in QST from
October 1987 through January 1988.
• October 1987 (Difficulties a blind ham faces, advantages/opportunities
from ham radio)
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8710027.pdf
• November 1987 (Computers, speech synthesizers, software, modems.
Getting them to work together)
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8711028.pdf
• December 1987 (Readying the computer to communicate with modem)
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8712028.pdf
• January 1988 (More about modems and operating procedures)
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8801038.pdf
Articles Continued
Ham Radio and Vision: For Blind and Vision-Impaired Hams
by Peter DeNeef, AE7PD
http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=28194
• 7.6 million with difficulty hearing
(1.1 million severe)
• 5.6 million use hearing aids
Protocols
• Continuous Wave (CW)/Morse Code
• Digital Modes
• Slow Scan TV
• International Phonetics
• P..A..T..I..E..N..C..E
• Avoid parroting, enunciate
Equipment
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Hearing aids (T-coil inductive coupling, Bluetooth®, and other technologies)
Speakers (noise cancelling) and headphones/headset
Graphic equalizer
Filters
Decoder programs
Digital signal processing
Anything to reduce noise/increase audio volume and clarity
Visual aids (light instead of sound indicators)
Packet—Deaf SEL ham used 12 V powered RS-232 terminal (Plannar ELT320) and packet radio to communicate over 2 meter. Incorrect RS-232
signal format, so had to use 80 lb battery that lasted only a couple of hours.
Techniques
• “Hunt and Pounce”
• Band spectrum display and scanning for activity
• RIT–move pitch up or down
• RF adjustment
• Feeling the code—fingers on a speaker cone
Articles
• Some exciting developments in hearing aid technology reported in
IEEE Spectrum in December of 2016
http://spectrum.ieee.org/consumer-electronics/audiovideo/deeplearning-reinvents-the-hearing-aid
Motor
Impairment
Roughly 30.6 million Americans
• Have trouble walking/climbing
stairs
• Use wheelchair, cane, crutches,
or walker
About 19.9 million had trouble
lifting and grasping
Protocols and Technology
• Stroke patient with very limited movement sends Morse code
messages to his wife.
• Sip and Puff Technology and Other Controllers
http://www.infogrip.com/sip-puff-switch.html
http://www.broadenedhorizons.com
• PS/2 Keyer (emulates PS/2 keyboard and mouse; March 2010 QST)
Coupled with puff and sip key (March 2004 QST) allows hands-free
computer operation
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/QEX_Next_Issue/May-Jun_2010/Bern.pdf
Courage HandiHam Program
• Service of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, part of Allina Health
• International, educational, non-profit organization designed to bring
excitement of Amateur Radio to persons with physical disabilities,
vision loss, and reading disabilities.
• Distance education program with online audio licensing lectures
based on ARRL License Manuals.
• Tools, technology, education to help challenged hams become
effective operators
Handiham Services for Members
• License and equipment manuals, other ham radio books & periodicals on
computer files at website and on NLS digital cartridge
• Members Only section of Handiham website, https://handiham.org ,
including Courage Handiham University with online audio licensing
lectures, QST & CQ digests and more. Online audio lectures available 24/7
and part of membership fee. Lectures have all info to pass each level of
licensing.
• Handiham e-mail newsletter with updates on ham radio happenings
• Access to Handiham remote base stations WØZSW and WØEQO
• Assistance from Handiham staff with ham radio studies, locating VE
sessions and ham clubs, other ham-related questions
• Handiham Radio Club sponsors daily on-air net
Application and Membership Costs
• Physical disability, vision loss, or reading disability? Join as member
receiving services. Non-disabled Amateurs welcome as Volunteer or
Associate. Organizations welcome. Program depends on entire Ham
community.
• Complete membership form and pay $12 annual fee for
services. Form at https://handiham.org, under "Membership".
Application & Membership Costs (Continued)
• Blind-Friendly Printable Text Application: Fill out in Notepad, print,
sign and mail to Handiham headquarters. Only must type answer
after each question, one per line:
https://handiham.org/downloads/Application16.txt
• Printable PDF Membership Application: Print, fill out, sign and mail to
Handiham headquarters:
https://handiham.org/downloads/Application16.pdf
• Can pay Handiham dues on line. Follow link to secure payment site,
then enter information and submit payment.
https://pay.usbank.com/Form/Payments/New?id=COURAGE_KENNY_
HANDIHAMS
Contact
• Courage Kenny Handiham Program
https://handiham.org
• Toll-Free telephone: 1-866-HANDIHAM (1-866-426-3442)
• Handiham EchoLink conference: 494492. Via iPhone, Android phone,
PC, or on connected simplex node or repeater system in your area.
• Daily Echolink net: 11:00 hours CST (Noon Eastern, 09:00 Pacific), as
well as Wednesday evenings at 19:00 hours CST (7 PM). No Thursday.
Disability Action Center (DAC)
• Offers equipment (including loaner equipment).
• Offers services to challenged individuals in the local area.
505 North Main Street in Moscow
208-883-0523
330 5th Street in Lewiston
1-888-746-9033