Dilemmas and getting phones for a child with autism

A broken iPad, an inconsolable child with autism.  His Mum is a friend,  and I promised to try and help her to collect 165 old mobile phones so she can get a replacement through the Irish Autism Action mobile phone recycling scheme.

Normally the iPad helps him with his

...communication

...learning

...organisation

...fine motor skills

...relaxation

...behaviour

He really really needs another one.

I asked the families who go to the Rainbow Junior Arch Club - Smiley's Saturday hangout.

I asked on my blog Facebook Page.

So now I have ten old phones and a few more promised.

But I need more.

I keep being told that everyone is collecting phones.

So what to do?

Well I decided that I would have to step away from the Mac and ask those people to whom I am not connected on here: the neighbours.  It's going to be interesting.  Nobody asks anyone for anything much around here.  Perhaps to keep an eye out if they are away.  There's the odd invitation to a charity coffee morning.  I don't usually go.  So what to do?

...Knock on doors?  No way, there are few things that I would hate more.

...Put a note in the parish newsletter?  There's not enough time, though that worked for me once before.

...A flyer?  Surely that would just go straight into recycling.

...A personal letter?  Possibly.  Actually yes, that might do it.

It took a while to draft and then I had to wait until I could actually get out of the house to do the deliveries.  More dilemmas: do I drop it at every house, or will that annoy some people?  And what if there is a 'no junk mail' sign?  Will they come after me when they see it?  What if I bump into them, I'd better have some words ready!

Finally I slunk out under cover of dusk and delivered a letter to any house where I at least vaguely knew who lived there.

And now I'm waiting for the phone to ring... I hope it does.

This is AJ.

And you can read more about him by clicking on here.  And if YOU have any old mobile phones that you can post to AJ's family please send me an email and I'll send you the address.

My email is stilllookingforbluesky at gmail dot com.

THANK YOU!