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 Previous: FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force Presents Recommendations |  Next: In Brief |
By James Alderman, KF5WT
November 8, 2002
A ham with a severe disability demonstrates that ham radio is a "great equalizer" that transcends barriers of age and physical ability.
As I walked into Southplace Nursing Home in Athens, Texas, I approached the nurse's station with eager anticipation. I knew there was an inspiring story here. It was the story of a unique member of the Athens Amateur Radio Club--a man who has overcome immense challenges to realize his lifelong dream of becoming a ham.
"I'm here to interview Dick Oakes for the magazine article," I told the nurse. "Can you tell me where I can find him?"
"Oh, yes." Her face beamed. "He's expecting you. Down that hall. Last room on the right."
I had no sooner taken my first steps down the long hall when I saw a motorized wheelchair in the distance emerging from that last room on the right. Even from yards away I could tell that the man driving the wheelchair had made eye contact with me, and was smiling.
"You're right on time," he said as I approached. "Come on in and have a look at my ham station." And thus begun my hour-long visit with one of the most remarkable men I have ever met--a man who has joined the ham ranks in spite of being a quadriplegic.
 KD5QAV, world traveler. |
Dick Oakes, 59, told me the story of how a freak accident robbed him of mobility at the age of 2. "I fell from a rocking horse and hit my head. The doctors told my parents that if the bump bulged out, I would be okay. But if the bump bulged in, I wouldn't. That's what happened. The swelling damaged my brain, but I was too young to remember anything."
Though Dick has used a wheelchair for mobility since that day in 1943, his indomitable spirit shines forth through his ever-present smile, gentle spirit and enduring patience. Using a breath-operated joystick for control, Dick "drives" his wheelchair better than most of us can maneuver a shopping cart!
Looking around his modest room, one can immediately see what's important to Dick. There are dozens of photos of friends and family--and lots of Elvis images! Oh yeah, there is the ham shack, too. A countertop along one side of the room is dedicated to Amateur Radio.
Lifelong Dream
Dick's quest for a ham license goes back decades. When he was a 12-year-old boy growing up in Dallas, his friend, Gary, became interested in ham radio. Gary also had a disability, but had use of his hands. Since Dick was unable to move his hands, he could only watch longingly as Gary learned to copy code, passed his ham test, built a tube-type radio from a kit and took to the airwaves. As Gary pounded out Morse code, the tubes glowed and the sound of dits and dahs filled the room. QSLs from faraway places soon began arriving in the mail. To these two 12-year-old buddies, it was musical--it was magical!
There was no code waiver for persons with disabilities in those days. Although he desperately wanted to be a ham, Dick could only watch and listen. He was convinced that his dream of "traveling the world" via the airwaves was all but out of reach.
Then in the 1970s, Dick moved with family to a beautiful home near the Texas-Oklahoma border overlooking Lake Texoma. This was during the CB craze. Since no test was required to operate a CB, Dick saw a chance to partially realize his dream of operating a radio, albeit a relatively low-powered one.
Using VOX operation and a desk mic, Dick was able to communicate with boaters all over the lake area. Operating as "Silver Wheels on the Silver Base," Dick had a regular circle of on-air friends. Over an 8-year period he shared his kindness and service with locals and newcomers alike, sometimes by offering an encouraging word, and sometimes by assisting a boater in need.
From CB to Ham
Even though CB radio was "okay," Dick still wanted to be a ham. After he moved into Southplace Nursing Home to receive full time care in 2000--and leaving the CB behind--he began to wonder whether his dream would ever come true.
A few months ago, Dick's "radio interest" was again piqued when he noticed Alice Smith, the nursing home's Activities Director, carrying a handheld radio around on a particularly blustery spring day. The radio turned out to be a 2-meter FM transceiver, and Alice, N5WBH, was net control for the local SKYWARN Net. Alice was more than happy to explain to Dick exactly what hams do to protect the community during severe weather.
Seeing his interest in ham radio, Alice suggested that Dick try to earn a Technician license. Since no code test was required, and the written test could be given orally, it seemed like a reachable goal. But there was one more challenge to overcome. Dick could not read. How could he possibly study?
You see, decades ago, a person with a disability "didn't need" an education. After all, the purpose of education was to prepare a person for the job market and disabled persons couldn't work. Today we know differently, of course.
Club Volunteers Pull Together
When the Athens ARC learned of Dick's desire to be a ham, volunteers set out to help. Several club members began teaching Dick to read. At the same time, Alice's husband Rick, AA5TI, began reading Technician study material and sample test questions into a cassette recorder. Dick was able to "study" for his ham license simply by playing these audiotapes.
Special oral VE test sessions were conducted there at the nursing home. Each session required four VEs--one VE and an observer to read the test questions aloud, one VE to write down Dick's answers and a fourth VE to monitor the recording of answers.
On the fourth attempt, Dick passed his Technician exam and was issued the call KD5QAV. And even though he has little control of his right hand, Dick is extremely proud of the fact that he signed his own license, with a little help from an assistant. If the FCC were to pop in for a station inspection, they would find that license prominently displayed in a frame near Dick's radio.
On the Air
Dick's sister bought him a new Yaesu FT-100 HF/VHF/UHF transceiver and Rick programmed it with the local repeater frequencies. Then club volunteers put up an outdoor discone antenna in the courtyard of the nursing home. An indoor antenna was also set up in the room for use during bad weather when lightning might be in the area. Since some nursing home residents have pacemakers and there might be RF density issues, the radio was set to low power, which was still adequate to hit the local repeaters regardless of which antenna Dick used.
To operate the radio, Dick simply has to get somebody to switch it on and press the VOX button. A desk mike is situated close to the edge of the countertop. Dick can wheel his chair up to the operating position and talk on the radio to his heart's content.
Dick often checks into the club's regular Monday night net, and he always keeps a vigilant eye on the sky during severe weather. Getting on the air has let Dick communicate with the outside world in a way that was never before possible for him.
Local hams have observed that Amateur Radio has produced another therapeutic benefit. Dick's speech, which had been somewhat muffled in the past, has steadily improved with practice. It seems that Amateur Radio can actually be an effective form of speech therapy.
Next Destination--The World
So what's next? Why, the world, of course! Dick plans to get his General and begin making friends all over the world. Of course, the challenges ahead are many. But Dick is used to overcoming challenges.
For HF operation, special modifications will have to be made to the radio and mike. Dick will need the ability to activate the band-select function on the radio, and the UP/DOWN frequency adjustment buttons on the microphone. The club is investigating options for doing this, including the possibility of computer control of the radio.
And what about HF antennas? Fortunately, the nursing home management has so far been supportive of Dick's ham radio pursuits--including the prospect of reasonable outdoor antennas. Yet with limited space and with RF density considerations, no doubt some careful planning will be in order.
Whatever the challenges may be, the Athens ARC is committed to getting their newest member upgraded to General and on the air in earnest. So, if while tuning around the bands someday soon you hear the gentle voice of KD5QAV, pop in and say "hi." That's Dick Oakes of Athens, Texas. And he's out traveling the world via Amateur Radio!
Postscript
On October 22, Dick Oakes passed away suddenly from complications of pneumonia. Although Dick didn't completely realize his dream of operating HF on a regular basis from his own station, he did actively participate in most club events such as club dinners, Field Days and SKYWARN nets. Although most of us were only acquainted with Dick for a couple of years, the enormous impact he made on us all will last a lifetime.
Dick so loved hanging out with local hams and talking over local repeaters. His gentle voice, pleasant demeanor and ever-present smile will be greatly missed. Our lives were truly enriched by having known him.
First
licensed at age 13, James Alderman, KF5WT, has worked in the electronics and
wireless industry for 17 years. He enjoys speaking to schools, Scout troops and
civic groups about the virtues of Amateur Radio. James serves as a VE and is a
registered Radio Merit Badge Instructor. You can contact the author at 2015
Miramonte, Carrollton, TX 75006; kf5wt@arrl.net.
| Previous: FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force Presents Recommendations | Next: In Brief |
