Every Tuesday morning, the Rock'n Prank'n Party Hour comes to radio listeners "live, baby, live!" - a high-spirited program of rock music, jokes, and prank phone calls. But one thing really makes it stand out: presenter Alexandra ('Lexi') has a disability.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lexi is one of several young adults with a disability who has taken to the airwaves. Disability service provider Interchange trains its clients how to run their own radio program, with the aid of a support worker.
The presenters have a mixed lot of disabilities. Some are physically disabled, or blind; others have developmental delays, or autism. But they are as motivated and as passionate as any mainstream radio host.
READ ALSO:
Lexi has hosted the one-hour show every Tuesday morning (11am to noon) for more than three months.
"Thinking on the spot; being able to improvise; and using my imagination and creativity," Lexi said, are what she has most learnt from the show. She has a script written out, but her mentor Andrew encourages her to "freestyle and think outside the box".
The show has a regular listener base; one favourite segment is a prank call on a pizza delivery guy (played by an Interchange worker).
"He tries to make a riot during the show, so we always send a prank order," Lexi said. "We sometimes get quite wild, throwing a bit of pizza around! It's pretty hard not to laugh."
Those pranks create "a really fun, exciting vibe," Andrew said. "Lexi wanted the show to be unique, not just a normal kind of show; she wanted it to have personality."
Their listeners have been enthusiastic. "People hit us up on the text line, and say they like the pranks; they want more pranks," Andrew said.
Other segments include jokes and interesting facts of the week - and, of course, rock music. Lexi's favourite genre is country and western; she's a fan of Garth Brooks and Cody Lee.
"Our aim is to do it more than once a week," Lexi said. "Every show we do, we just get better and better."
Harrison and Heidi host a youth hour on Thursday afternoons at 4pm, while Thomas and Michelle welcome in the weekend on Fridays at 4pm.
James, another Interchange client, has hosted his show - "Getting you through hump day" - every Wednesday evening at 6pm for four years, and aspires to become a full-time radio announcer.
READ ALSO: Independent James is an inspiration
Audiences can listen to the Rock'n Prank'n Party Hour on Tuesdays, 11am to noon, on 92.5 FM (within the Southern Highlands), or livestream it via MusicFM (https://www.musicfm.com.au/).