Studying for your Foundation exam and need extra help?
There is help available for blind or partially-sighted people, those with hearing issues, reading and writing issues, neurodiversity, dyslexia and dyscalculia, mobility issues and people struggling with mental health issues and social anxiety.
On this page, we look at the options.
Video: What help is available?
Watch this for a summary of what help is available:
Help with study:
Here are some of the ways that we can help with study:
- Free course: Our free online training course has helped over 14,000, including people for whom normal study is not an option.
- Videos: We have a stack of videos covering everything you need to know to pass the Foundation exam. See Foundation Videos
- Books: Our Foundation Study Guide is in paperback and eBook format, which support many accessibility options
- Spoken audio: Our Foundation Study Guide is available as an audiobook on Audible: Foundation Study Guide on Audible
- Exam FAQ: Questions about our course and exam have been answered in our Exam FAQ
Help with exams:
The RSGB runs amateur radio exams, and can make reasonable adjustments to exams to make them more accessible.
Call them on 01234 832 700 or email exams@rsgb.org.uk to discuss the many options available.
Discussion and Help:
- Facebook: We have a special Facebook group dedicated to helping Foundation students: See HamTrain on Facebook
- Discord: We have a Discord server: See HamTrain on Discord
- Email: We have an email discussion group. See HamTrain on Groups.io Chat
- Forum: We’re members of HamHub UK, which has a newcomer forum and an FAQ. See: HamHub Forum & HamHub FAQ
Video: Making Amateur Radio Accessible
This video is well worth watching. Many people, even those with very severe disabilities, have been able to get into the hobby. RSGB did a talk on this recently. Nigel had a severe motorbike accident and lost much of his sight. Steve is mostly paralysed and struggles to use a radio. Keith is wheelchair bound and talks about mental health issues. Dave is the Technology and Accessibility Lead at Sight Matters, a charity on the Isle of Man that supports over 700 visually impaired members.
Exam Modifications
The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) can make a range of reasonable modifications to the UK Foundation amateur radio examination to ensure accessibility for candidates with disabilities, without compromising the integrity or standard of the qualification. These adjustments are designed to remove barriers to participation while maintaining fairness and consistency across all candidates.
One key modification is the provision of extra time. Candidates who have visual impairments, dyslexia, or other conditions that slow reading or writing speed can be granted a longer exam duration. This allows them to process information and record answers at a comfortable pace. Similarly, candidates who use a reader or writer—someone who reads out the questions or records dictated answers, may also be able to get extra time to ensure equal opportunity.
Another reasonable adjustment is the use of alternative formats for exam materials. The RSGB can provide large-print papers, high-contrast text, or versions without diagrams for those who are blind or partially sighted. Essex Ham offers study material for electronic book readers with test-to-speech, as well as an audiobook of the training material Also, the Radio Amateurs’ Invalid and Blind Club (RAIBC) offers audio or Braille versions of study materials can also be made available before the exam, ensuring all candidates can prepare effectively.
For candidates with physical disabilities that make it difficult to attend a regular test centre, or those suffering from social anxiety, exams can now be taken at home. ensuring that mobility issues do not prevent participation.
Finally, the RSGB can offer reasonable scheduling flexibility for those with medical conditions that affect stamina or concentration, allowing rest breaks or alternative times if necessary. Each modification is assessed individually, ensuring that the candidate’s needs are met while the core competence standards of amateur radio operation remain unchanged. Call them on 01234 832 700 or email exams@rsgb.org.uk to discuss the many options available, and what might be right for you.
Related Links
- RAIBC – Charity supporting Radio Amateurs and Short-wave Listeners with disabilities
