Sonny says thanks for the iPad

Another day, another iPad and another happy child! The Hearts and Minds mobile phone recycling scheme is changing lives all over Britain.

This is Sonny's story:

Hello! 

My name is Sonny.  I am 5 years old.  I was born at 25 weeks and weighing a whopping 790 grams.   Since my birth I have fought against infections, a heart attack and a series of mini strokes.  I am severely under-developed with my walking and talking, but I am doing far more than my Mummy was told I would ever achieve.  I have resolving chronic lung disease, which will never be fixed.  I have many issues with sounds, lights and smells. I have autistic tendencies and severe behavioral difficulties.  Currently I am waiting for a grant so that Mummy and Daddy can build an extension on our house so I can have my own room, I am unable to climb the stairs as recently I have developed epilepsy so I have frequent seizures – I sleep in a special bed in the lounge (which is great as I get the wide screen tv, log burner and comfy sofa).   I have a very high intelligence and am hyperactive so I don’t need much sleep to function, whereas Mummy does!!  I have two sisters who live with me, they are 10 and 7.  I drive them insane (apparently) with my constant questions and needs (I have no awareness of danger so need constant supervision).   I go to a specialist school for language and communication difficulties and in September I will be going into Year 1, which I am very excited about!  Mummy was put in touch with a UK Charity, Hearts and Minds, which has started a scheme to re-cycle old mobile telephones in exchange for an iPad. 

Look what 185 old mobile phones can do?  Gives me this cheesy smiley face!  Look at me now, I’m in iPad land and I love it! I can watch my favourite programmes through you tube and follow links as well as improve my fine motor skills by navigating the different apps (*cough, cough*) and give Mummy a small break as it is keep me very still!!! I am having a ball.

To all of my favourite friends: thank you, thank you, thank you – you are all truly superstars!! Lots of love Sonny xxxxxx 

If your child needs an iPad please check out Hearts and Minds:

Website: http://www.heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK
Twitter: @handmchallenge

This scheme began in Ireland: http://www.autismirelandphones.ie/
 

In the news - September 2012

More than 900 families have now registered with the Hearts and Minds iPad scheme and many are finding that a good way to collect old mobile phones is to get an article in the local paper or on-line.  Here are some recent examples...

A Daventry Mum is appealing for phones to get an iPad for 13 year old Callum, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

http://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/news/local/mum-appeals-for-support-to-help-son-with-disorder-1-4214612

Swansea Mum Carley Owen thanks readers for their help and asks for more.

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Readers-help-answer-mum-s-phones/story-16711587-detail/story.html

A Cornish autism support group has a lovely write up about the Hearts and Minds challenge.

http://cornwallautismsupport.com/help-a-child-with-autism-communicate-with-the-world-they-live-in/

Mum Anne Stone (@okesanne) writes a heart-warming blog about life with 5 children, two of whom have autism.  Recently she registered for the Hearts and Minds scheme and she explains why in this post.

http://babyno5.blogspot.ie/2012/08/plea-for-old-mobile-phones.html

If your child needs an iPad please check out Hearts and Minds:

Website: http://www.heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK
Twitter: @handmchallenge

This scheme began in Ireland: http://www.autismirelandphones.ie/

A video celebration of kids with their iPads

More than 1000 people have now joined the Hearts and Minds Facebook page - just 3 months since the TV launch on May 31st.  And by the end of last week 900 families had registered for the mobile phone recycling scheme.   There are also 23 happy children - and families - who have finished collecting old phones and have exchanged them for iPads.  This (very short) film shows just how much their new devices mean to them...



If your child needs an iPad please check out Hearts and Minds:

Website: http://www.heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK
Twitter: @handmchallenge

This scheme began in Ireland: http://www.autismirelandphones.ie/

Primary school through the eyes of a boy with Asperger's

Who says that kids with Asperger's don't look at the positives? An articulate journey through the primary school years..

Hi, I'm Fionn and one day when I'm famous they will tear down the house and find this and put it in a museum.

On June the 30th after 3 days labour pains and I was finally born. When I opened my eyes I saw Mum and Dad and that's where my story begins.

I had an older brother and sister who used to play with me on the trampoline and the climbing frame. When I went to school I was very young and I found it very hard to make friends. So Mum and Dad brought me to a specialist and I was diagnosed with Asperger's. This helped us all understand about me. At this stage I got another brother and we were really close.

One day towards the end of P2 I had a bad accident. I was on the trampoline with my brothers and a friend, who somersaulted and fell with such force I went up in the air and I landed on my head on the cement. I had a brain haemorrhage and a skull fracture. I was very ouchy.

When I got to P3 I made my first real friends. I sat beside M and we started talking during maths. Then we became best friends and he introduced me to his friends and that's where I met most of my friends today. In P4 I made Communion and had a fantastic party with balloons and coke! After Communion we went on holiday to Italy and had an awesome time. We had a huge villa with a big pool and a beach close.

In P5 I had a great teacher and a great assistant who I forgot to mention earlier. I had a really good year and in the summer holidays I went to Spain for a week and it was beautiful. The sun was out, the sand was hot and the waves were big and I made some friends.

Now I'm in P7 with a great teacher and have had him until the time of writing. We will make our confirmation soon after and go to Manchester after.

More about the Hearts and Minds charity here:

Website: http://www.heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK
Twitter: @handmchallenge  

Poster to publicise your mobile phone collection campaign

Please download this to help with your mobile phone collection.

For more information visit:

UK - http://www.heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/

Ireland - www.autismirelandphones.ie