Shaun loves his new iPad

Shaun's Mum Nicola decided to take part in the Hearts & Minds mobile recycling scheme with the hope of collecting 165 old mobile phones to exchange for an iPad for Shaun, He is 3 years old and is non-verbal , they hope the iPad will help him communicate better with people around him.

Nicola said she lives in a smallish town so found Facebook a great tool to get the word out and her local paper also did an advert to help spread the word and appeal for people to dig their old phones out.

The nursery Shaun attends helped by putting posters up , and local shops and businesses agreed to be drop off points.

Nicola was amazed with the reaction and the phones flowed in and within 4 weeks they had managed to collect not 165 phones but 220 phones and managed to get Shaun an iPad Air.

Shaun is really enjoying his new iPad and mum says he knows how to work it and will benefit greatly , She thanks everyone involved who helped to make it possible.

For more details or to register for our mobile phone recycling scheme visit

www.heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/

In the News: January 2013

The announcement that two of Team GB's Olympics cyclists will be joining the CycleBuddy Cycling Challenge charity cycle for Hearts and Minds in May boosted newspaper coverage in January.

The story got great coverage in the Manchester Evening News:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/the-united-star-will-join-bmx-star-1239888

More and more families are successfully collecting old mobile phones to swap for an iPad from Hearts and Minds, and some are getting so many donations of phones that they are getting additional iPads for other children, or sending the spare phones directly to Hearts and Minds:

http://www.shoresideprimary.org/news_detail.asp?Section=8&Ref=323

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2013/02/06/donate-a-phone-to-help-kids-just-like-kind-hemlington-girl-lucy-jo-84229-32755467/

Other families are using local newspapers to appeal for phones:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/nine_year_old_lowestoft_schoolboy_is_calling_out_for_old_phones_1_1793079
http://www.newmarketjournal.co.uk/news/latest-news/help-answer-mother-s-call-for-old-phones-1-4584306

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/health/10150217.Mute_Greenwich_boy_could_communicate_with_family_thanks_to_unloved_mobiles/

And a reminder that it's not just children with autism who can benefit from iPad, they can be used to help with other special needs too, like cerebral palsy:

http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/latest-news/hundreds_donate_phones_to_help_st_neots_boy_2_with_cerebral_palsy_get_ipad_1_1796685

Another way to appeal for phones is through a personal blog like this one:

http://aworldofspinning.blogspot.ie/2013/01/we-need-your-help.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

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/
 

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/

Jacob's story

This is the poster, and here is Jacob's heart-warming story as told by his Mum...

Jacob was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old.  He struggles with social, communication, learning and the world around him.  From an early age we figured Jacob wasn't like other children, and although we loved him unconditionally, we knew that having him diagnosed would open up a world and different opportunities for him.

Jacob attended mainstream school until last  October ( age 8)  when we finally won our two year battle to get him into a school locally for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  It was a hard, long, emotional battle. At times I even wondered if it would be worth the fight.  I questioned if I was doing the right thing many times, although I knew the truth was he belonged there.

Myself and my husband stayed true to our beliefs, and I will never forget the elation and relief we felt on the day of the accepting phone call.  We have never looked back, and Jacob is now finally enjoying and getting something out of school life.  It's just a shame his life at mainstream was so upsetting for him.

He is a adorable boy who fills my heart with joy and laughter.  He is a wonderful, isolated, quiet, complicated character who, along with his sisters, has completed my husband and my life.

The iPad from Hearts and Minds has given him an escape, and he is for the first time enjoying Mathematics and English work as he can visually see and understand on the iPad.

His favourite 'game' is subway surf!  Put on by his elder sister, he enjoys the visual fast movements and giggles away while playing it!

Thank you so much for the iPad, we could never explain enough the difference it has made to our beautiful boy.

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/