Keith wrote:
On 27 Jul 2003 14:22:09 GMT, (N2EY) wrote:
If you're going to go that route, then all of the questions in the written
tests about voice modes have to go as well, because there's no way deaf people
are going to use SSB, either.
I'd love to see someone with a hearing disability receive weak signal CW on 80
meters in the middle of July. Requiring a deaf person to pass a code test to
get a ham license is like making a blind person pass a drivers test before
riding the bus, you never know when driver will pass out and the blind will
have to take the wheel of the bus.
You're correct, I won't work that 80 meter CW as well as those with
good hearing. So What? Given enough volume in a headset, I'm a darn good
contest op on SSB, better than a lot of people who have "perfect"
hearing. So we've nulled that one out.
NO, requiring a deaf person to learn CW is NOT like teaching a blind
person to drive. Whereas the deaf can still navigate around with
whatever aids they can come up with, (sometimes as simple as cranking
up the volume on the headset or putting that finger against the speaker
cone) the legally blind won't be able to drive without some technology
that doesn't exist yet.
So please don't tell those who cannot hear as well as you what they can
and cannot do.
- Mike KB3EIA -