THE mother of an autistic boy has made an emotional appeal for people to donate their old mobile phones to an Irish charity that will in turn provide her son with an ipad to help with his education.
Cathy Murray is the mother of six-year-old primary school student, Shane Murray from Walkinstown, who suffers from autistic dyspraxia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Cathy explained that Shane has significant learning difficulties and often has problems expressing himself. She pointed out that his education would greatly benefit from the use of an ipad.
Under a scheme currently being operated by Autism Ireland anyone who can collect 160 old, broken or unused mobile phones and give them to the charity will receive an ipad in return.
“His motor skills are not very good and he cannot feed himself or write,
? Cathy revealed.
“He can’t brush his own teeth properly. He still needs help dressing and he is going to occupational therapy quite a lot.
“He has great communication skills but he can’t always express what he wants to say or what he is feeling. He is on daily medication and has a special needs assistant in school and has resource hours. Shane’s writing is not great. He has the intelligence to say what he wants to write but it is easier for him to put it on a computer.
“He can tick it off on a computer instead of writing it,
? Cathy revealed.
“In years to come when he is doing his Junior or Leaving Cert he should be allowed do some of it on a computer.
?
Cathy said she has collected 31 old mobile phones so far from family and friends but is hoping that generous members of the public will donate the additional ones she needs to provide Shane with an ipad.
She has organised a number of drop off points where people can leave their old phones, including the Walkinstown Library, McHugh’s Shop on Patrick’s Road in Greenhills, Macari’s Fish and Chip Shop on James’s Road and the Cherry Tree Pub in Walkinstown.
Alternatively anyone who wants to donate their old phone can contact her at the.irish.pixie @gmail.com
And those who would like to learn more about the phone for ipad scheme can log on to www.autismirelandphones.ie