A DEVOTED mother whose autistic son has limited speech needs to collect more than 100 old mobile phones to swop for an iPad to help him communicate.

Suzanne Pulley, of Stourport, believes the tablet will help four-year-old Max, who finds communicating and socialising difficult, respond more effectively and learn about everyday life.

She needs to collect 164 old mobile phones for the charity Hearts and Mind, which will then exchange it for an iPad and is urging people to donate their devices.

Mrs Pulley said: “Max is non-verbal and he doesn’t talk. We are hoping that the iPad will help him communicate better. It would be amazing for him to have it.”

She added Max, who attends Burlish Park Primary School and the Wyre Forest School, responded well to the Apple tablet when using it in lessons.

“He struggles with so many everyday things we all take for granted,” said Mrs Pulley, of Caldy Walk.

“Max loves computers and games and the response and changes in him are amazing whenever he gets the chance to use an iPad. It will help his concentration, communication and help him to understand and learn about daily life.”

The youngster was diagnosed with autism last December after his speech did not develop as well as other children.

Mrs Pulley said: “We always knew from when he was 18 months that he wasn’t talking like other children.

“It came as a shock when he was diagnosed. It was devastating. It’s very difficult with his autism but he’s a very happy boy. He’s always smiling. He shows his happiness by jumping up and down a lot.”

She added: “We’re hoping the iPad will help him talk more. When he’s in front of any computer he will tell us what he sees and he will respond to the games but if we show him a picture he will not respond.”

She added people could donate their phones, which need to be less than 10 years old with a battery but no sim card, by emailing suzanne giles-pulley@hotmail.co.uk They can also take their old phones to the Courtyard Cafe, Lombard Street, Stourport and Burlish Park Primary School.

“We want people at home to check drawers and cupboards but also if businesses have upgraded phones or changed contracts they may have the old phones that are no longer needed,” Mrs Pulley added.