For many South Australians, keeping up with the news is as simple as picking up a newspaper, scrolling through a phone, or opening a website. But for people who are blind, have low vision, dyslexia, or other print disabilities, accessing everyday information has not always been so straightforward.
That changed thanks to the Radio for the Print Handicapped (RPH) movement, which emerged in Australia during the 1970s.
Inspired by radio reading services established in the United States, early programs such as A Blind Affair on Melbourne radio stations 3ZZ and 3CR demonstrated the power of broadcasting to connect people with information, ideas and their community. These pioneering programs not only provided practical information for people with vision impairment but also challenged community perceptions and highlighted the achievements and contributions of people living with disability.
The movement gained momentum in 1978 when the Australian Government announced plans for a dedicated radio service for people with reading difficulties. Over the following decade, RPH services expanded across the country, supported by government funding, community volunteers and a growing recognition that access to information is a fundamental right.
In South Australia, the service began broadcasting in 1983 and became known as 5RPH, now Vision Australia Radio Adelaide.
For more than four decades, it has provided a unique service by reading newspapers, magazines and specialist publications aloud, ensuring that people who cannot access printed text remain informed and connected.
Today, an estimated 18 per cent of South Australians live with a print disability.
Vision Australia Radio Adelaide continues to play a vital role, reaching thousands of listeners every week across metropolitan and regional areas. Whether it is the morning newspaper headlines, community information, sport, arts coverage or disability-focused content, the station delivers trusted information 24 hours a day.
For older Australians, the service offers another valuable benefit.
Whether driving across the state, relaxing at home, or simply preferring to listen rather than read, Vision Australia Radio provides free access to the latest news and current affairs without the cost of a newspaper subscription.
Powered by more than 100 dedicated volunteers, Vision Australia Radio Adelaide remains a remarkable example of community service in action, proving that access to information should be available to everyone, regardless of how they read.
https://radio.visionaustralia.org
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