Tag: #disabilities

Members of the Waltham Amateur Radio Association recently embarked upon a project to benefit the Courage Center Handiham program, and to honor the memory of long-time member and Silent Key, Laurie Cote, KC1BN.

A Cote family member contacted Handiham in November, 2009 to inform them that KC1BN had left a sizeable amount of ham equipment from his estate to the non-profit organization based in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Handiham’s Manager, Pat Tice, WA0TDA reached out to Eastern MA Handiham volunteer instructor Phil Temples, K9HI.

Handiham very much appreciated the generous gift from Laurie,” explained Temples. “But the Handiham staff were not easily able to take possession and liquidate the equipment.” That’s when Temples thought to approach Laurie’s home club, the Waltham Amateur Radio Association and seek their help.

“I suggested to WA0TDA that it might make sense to enlist the aid of WARA to sell the equipment from Laurie’s estate, retain a portion of the proceeds, and donate the remainder to the Handiham program. Pat agreed.” Temples added, “I thought it would both honor an organization that Laurie admired, and afford WARA the opportunity to honor Laurie’s memory.”

All parties were agreeable, so K9HI presented the idea at a Waltham ARA meeting in January, 2010. WARA’s Vice President, John Flood, KB1FQG enthusiastically agreed; he volunteered to spearhead the project.

“I’m glad that WARA is able to help the Handiham group with this project,” said Flood. “I do remember hearing that [Laurie] liked the work they do. He wanted to do something like this to help Handiham.”

Flood spent many hours cataloging and testing equipment from Cote’s estate, as well as advertising the items on the club’s mailing list. The response has been very positive: to date, over $3,500 has been collected from sales, with an additional $1,000 expected in the coming weeks.

“Thank you so much for your hard work on our behalf,” wrote Pat Tice, WA0TDA to Flood on behalf of WARA.

“I want to add my thanks for all the hard work [KB1FQG] and other Waltham ARA members have contributed to this project on behalf of Laurie’s family and the two organizations,” added K9HI.

The Courage Center Handiham System is a national program that provides tools for people with disabilities to learn Amateur Radio and technology skills, and to earn their Amateur Radio licenses.

The Waltham Amateur Radio Association is an ARRL-affiliated club, established in 1938. Its repeater site is located on Prospect Hill in Waltham, MA.

Members of the Boston Amateur Radio Club facilitated a License In A Weekend session at the Irving K. Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities in Newton on June 13-15.

A dozen Zola Center members, with assistance from volunteers of the Boston club studied and reviewed test material from the ARRL license manual. The sessions were conducted on Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon, the Boston ARC Volunteer Examiner team administered the Technician and General class elements.

BARC members held a May prequel meeting to the weekend study session to distribute the materials, and to prepare the students for what lay ahead.

“Everyone helped in some way. Some were on the front lines, but it took everyone else’s support to really make it happen,” wrote BARC Vice President Eric Falkof, K1NUN.

“Paul [N1ZKR] and Nora [KB1OHB] called people to encourage or ensure there were no outstanding problems. This was an essential element, because it maintained the club’s contact with the students. We did not leave them adrift. This helped the students to know they were not being abandoned to their own devices entirely. … We showed we were attentive and cared.”

“The 80 percent passing grade of the participants was a testament to your good work,” wrote Donna Suskawicz, the Center’s Director, complementing the Boston ARC crew on their efforts. “All participants enjoyed the weekend and communicated to me they were thankful for the opportunity to study and take the license exam.” She added, “I know this was time consuming for all of you and I am appreciative of the personal dedication from each of you.”

Suskawicz also participated in the course; she successfully passed the Technician exam and is awaiting her license.

Participating Boston ARC members included K1NUN, WA1IDA, KB1OHB, N1ZKR, KB1OKP, N1ICN and K9HI.

Costs for the weekend program were partially offset by the Avon Products company, who awarded Suskawicz a national “Avon Hello Tomorrow” grant to encourage women with disabilities to pursue ham radio.

The Irving K. Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities at Brigham House is a drop-in community center for persons with disabilities. The center is named for Irving Kenneth Zola, a resident of Newton, MA, who was an internationally known sociologist and advocate who specialized in disability studies and medical sociology.

[See also:
K9HI Promotes Handiham System At Zola Center
Zola Center Founder Receives Cash Award to Promote Ham Radio
Boston ARC, Zola Center To Hold License In A Weekend Course]

A Brighton woman has been awarded funding to operate a program promoting ham radio communication for women with disabilities.

Donna Suskawicz, who founded the Irving Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities, was selected the winner in the nationwide Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund. Suskawicz says that the award money will allow her to “assist with training, purchasing equipment and sending at least one woman to the summer Courage Center Handiham camp.” Suskawicz adds that she looks forward to working on the project with the Boston Amateur Radio Club in the coming year.

“I am thrilled to be nationally recognized and will continue to work to empower persons with disabilities,” writes Suskawicz, who competed against 1300 applicants for the $5000 cash prize. She adds, “One person CAN make a difference!”

The Irving K. Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities at Brigham House is a drop-in community center for persons with disabilities. The center is named for Irving Kenneth Zola, a resident of Newton, MA, who was an internationally known sociologist and advocate who specialized in disability studies and medical sociology.

[See also: K9HI Promotes Handiham System At Zola Center]

The Board of Directors of the Framingham Amateur Radio Association has voted to donate $100 to the Courage Center Handiham System, according to FARA President Gordy Bello, K1GB.

Guest speaker and Handiham volunteer Phil Temples, K9HI presented at the Association’s September 6, 2007 general meeting. Temples’ talk included a showing of the Handiham promotional video “Making Contacts… Making Friends” produced by Pat Tice, WA0TDA and directed by Gary Gordon, K6KV.

“The board made its decision based on what we saw in [the] presentation and felt it was a worthwhile cause. We were moved by both the courage of the campers and the dedication on the part of the instructors who gave up their own operating time to serve others,” wrote K1GB.

Phil Temples, K9HI, received the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission’s Community Champions Award on behalf of his work with the Courage Center Handiham System. The 30-second ceremony occurred in front of approximately 45,000 football fans at the conclusion of the third quarter of the BC-Wake Forest football game on September 1, 2007. Temples was spotlighted as a result of his Boston College 2007 Community Service Award for his Handiham participation. Awarding the certificate were Lottery Agent Jean Laworski and Mark Cavanagh, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission.

The public address announcer described Handiham a “United Way-funded initiative that brings together experienced amateur radio operators and professional caregivers to provide a learning experience for disabled persons who are interested in radio operation skills.”

[See also: K9HI Honored By Boston College For Community Service]

Staff members and clients of the non-profit Irving K. Zola Center in Newton, Massachusetts heard a presentation about Amateur Radio and the Courage Center Handiham System on June 9, 2007 from Handiham volunteer Phil Temples, K9HI.

Temples spoke about the various aspects of ham radio to the audience, including amateurs’ important contributions to public service. He also described the California and Minnesota radio camps in detail.

Temples’ presentation featured the Handiham promotional video “Making Contacts… Making Friends” produced by Pat Tice, WA0TDA and directed by Gary Gordon, K6KV, followed by a question and answer session.
“The group was really fired up at the conclusion of the presentation,” remarked K9HI. “The director inquired about affiliating with the Courage Center Handiham System. And, several clients asked about the possibility of holding a License In A Weekend session at the Center. I’d say that there’s an excellent chance the Zola Center might form a ham radio club in the future.”

The Irving K. Zola Center for Persons with Disabilities at Brigham House is a drop-in community center for persons with disabilities. The center is named for Irving Kenneth Zola, a resident of Newton, MA, who was an internationally known sociologist and advocate who specialized in disability studies and medical sociology.

[Photo: Phil Temples, K9HI, gives a presentation about the Handiham System at Zola Center.]

–Thanks, Courage Center Handiham System

Attention Eastern MA hams: do you know of a disabled individual–either licensed or unlicensed–who might benefit from attending a Handiham radio camp? California Radio Camp slots are still available.

“If you are interested in attending the California session, which will be the week of February 17 through 23, 2007 please let us know and we will send you an application package. If you are a Handiham student working on your Technician Class license and you pass your examination at Camp, we will give you a brand-new 2 m hand-held radio. This new radio program is made possible by the generosity of a Handiham donor whose special mission is to get new people licensed and on the air. Please e-mail Nancy at hamradio@courage.org for a camp application as soon as possible if you are interested in attending. You may also call toll-free at 1-866-426-3442.”

—Handiham World Weekly E-letter, December 13, 2006

Applications are being accepted for persons with disabilities who wish to attend the Courage Center Handiham Radio Camp in Lake George, Minnesota, from August 23 through 30, 2005. Camperships to help with tuition are available for first-time campers working on their first license.

“Courage North staff will pick up campers at the Bemidji, MN airport or the bus station,” writes Handi-ham Program Manager Pat Tice, WA0TDA. “Wheelchairs and service animals are no problem, and campers using these accommodations will find that Courage North is a fun and easy to use place!”

For more information, or to obtain an application, contact Courage Center Handiham at 1-866-426-3442 email hamradio@courage.org or visit http://www.handiham.org.

[Pictured, left: Gerry Kloss, N0VOE. -K9HI photo]

The Southeastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association has voted to become a Handi-ham Affiliated Club at its April 7, 2005 business meeting, according to SEMARA President Tim Smith, N1TI.

“The club has made a commitment to make Amateur Radio as accessible as possible for people with disabilities,” explains Smith. “Whenever we have a course, we can help [disabled persons] avail themselves of what Handi-ham has to offer in the way of study materials. The best part of becoming an affiliated club is that we all become more aware of the issues faced by disabled people.”

According to SEMARA newsletter editor Bob Kelley, K1KVV, “The notion of affiliated club status was mentioned by Phil Temples (K9HI) in a talk about the Courage Handi-ham program. I volunteered to bring this up for a vote at next business meeting.”

Courage Handi-ham System Manager Pat Tice, WA0TDA, was very pleased to receive the inquiry from the SEMARA gang. “We would love to have you on board,” he wrote to Kelley in an email response.

The Southeastern MA ARA counts among its members one of most active Handi-ham volunteers in the country: Bob Zeida, N1BLF. Zeida has been instrumental in supplying audio recordings of QST, Worldradio and other ham radio-related content for Handi-ham members. (See also “N1BLF CD Recordings for the Blind”.)

Openings are still available for persons with disabilities who wish to attend the Courage Center Handiham Radio Camp in Malibu, California, February 27 through March 6, 2005.

Camp Joan Mier is a fully-accessible facility featuring comfortable accommodations and great food.

“Our ham shack is equipped with a triband beam overlooking the Pacific. Talk about a great location,” says Handiham Coordinator Pat Tice, WA0TDA. “If you have been considering a first license or upgrade, or just want to learn operating skills in a friendly environment, give us a call toll-free and request a Radio Camp application.”

The cost is $225 for the week, which includes food, lodging, normal caregiving (no need to bring a caregiver), radio classes, and recreational opportunities. Handiham staff will meet your flight at LAX if you arrive by air. Camp is designed to make it easy for people with disabilities to enjoy a week of worry-free ham radio learning and fun.

For more information, contact Courage Center Handiham at 1-866-426-3442 email hamradio@courage.org or visit http://www.handiham.org.

From the Handi-ham web site:

“There are still openings for beginners at Handi-ham Radio Camp in Malibu, California. We are looking for new campers who are getting started in amateur radio and want to earn their Technician tickets. Camp is open to any Handiham member with a disability, and we have a special deal for beginners this year—it is FREE! Well, almost free. We will pay your camp tuition except for a $45 registration/insurance fee, but that’s it.

Campers get picked up at the Los Angeles airport if necessary, get all of their food, lodging, and normal caregiving needs met through the week, ham radio classes and fun activities, and a VE session. Campers do have to pay their travel expense to Los Angeles, but we take care of almost everything else.

If you know a beginner who may benefit from this camp experience, please contact Handiham Student Coordinator Jerry Kloss, N0VOE, at his callsign at handiham.org or call Nancy toll-free at 1-866-426-3442.”

[Please share this with all Eastern MA clubs. The camps are a fantastic experience for any ham or would-be ham with a disability. – K9HI]