Posted on Sun, May. 11, 2008

Lending her voice to help out others

By Angie Summers

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

ARLINGTON -- Her apartment at The Claremont is filled with books, music boxes, mementos and photographs from her travels all over the world.

Two things, however, reflect Adell Campbell's life these days.

The first is a copy of Pablo Picasso's famous sketch Don Quixote framed on her dining-room wall. It's appropriate for Campbell, who fights battles for the mentally and physically disabled and the elderly.

The second, a box of newspaper clippings, reflects her thirst for knowledge and is full of possible topics for her radio program.

For 2 1/2 years, Campbell has educated and entertained listeners with The Eyes of North Texas. The radio broadcast airs twice a week on North Texas Radio for the Blind, part of the nonprofit Reading and Radio Resource Center that produces radio programs and textbooks on tape for the visually impaired.

Campbell, 84, isn't the type of person who sits still and lets life pass by. She will be honored Monday with the Outstanding Advocate for Older Americans award during a reception hosted by the Tarrant County Area Agency on Aging.

What is North Texas Radio for the Blind?

The radio serves about 3,000 listeners who -- because of vision, learning or physical limitations -- cannot read for themselves. The center produces and broadcasts informational programs such as mine, community updates and readings of newspapers, magazines, newsletters and books every day of the year.

How can people hear your program?

Any listener who is certified as print-impaired by a physician or social worker can receive a special agency-supplied receiver, which will decode our signal that is carried by KERA/90.1 FM. Listeners will have to live within 70 miles of towers located at Cedar Hill, but the device is provided free of charge.

What type of issues do you examine?

When I first started doing this, the station manager told me, "You have no limitations. You are only limited by good taste."

We've had programs about cultural events, current events and just informational programs. Some of them include the Fort Worth Zoo, the Dallas Museum of Art, an Egyptologist, self-defense for the disabled, a senior citizens crime watch patrol, grandparenting and a program by Sam Nix about teaching history through rap music. Some upcoming shows will include Matt Fagan, who will discuss the Big Thicket National Preserve; and Nancy Stoner, a senior attorney and director of the Clean Water Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

How did you get involved in helping the mentally and physically disabled and senior citizens?

I found a bunch of people who were getting the short end of the stick, and that made me mad.

What is a major issue the elderly face?

I call it the hidden fear. Many times, the elderly person may be on food stamps and struggling to get by. But they refuse to try and get better services or more money that they may qualify for. They are so afraid they will lose what little they have that they won't try for more. We need to educate the elderly about what services are available and how to get them.

What do you hate about getting older?

After a certain age, you become invisible. It aggravates me that if I go into a store with a younger person, they will automatically ask the younger person questions, as if I cannot hear or see well when I'm right in front of them. There's also a lack of respect. It doesn't matter whether we deserve it or not, the elderly should get respect.

Adell Campbell

Age: 84

Occupation: Radio host, community advocate, volunteer

Highlights: Ran for state Senate in Minnesota in 1977

Teacher: Taught classes about herbs at the University of Texas at Arlington, Tarrant County College and Texas Christian University

Author: Wrote radio script in 1946; Herbal Holiday Calendar; Edible Herbal Alphabet

Volunteer work: Former president, Arlington Garden Club; coordinator, VSA Arts; docent, Fielder Museum; Landmark Commission, Arlington; Mayor's Commission for the Disabled, Arlington; Aged and Disabled Committee, Social Service Providers Network; docent, DeGolyer House at the Dallas Arboretum; board member, REACH

Residency: Born in Long Island, has lived in California, Texas, Virginia and Minnesota

Honors: Outstanding Advocate for Older Americans award, Tarrant County Area Agency on Aging; Educational Award, State of Texas Federation Garden Clubs; won ribbons at the Minnesota and Texas state fairs for her pickles and jelly

Family: Daughter, Leslie; two grandchildren, Brandy and Amber; several great-grandchildren