The community project was set up by Bendigo teacher Jacqui Righetti and is designed to assist people who are not eligible for government-funded support.

Donated iOS devices are restored to factory settings and used with autism apps such as the Grace App which allows users to communicate with pictures.

Grace App creator Lisa Domican will be in Bendigo on Thursday for a communication workshop.

The workshop will be at the Bendigo Special Developmental School in Kangaroo Flat from 7pm tomorrow and is designed to raise money to buy more iOS devices for people with autism.

“We want as many people as possible to learn about the project and perhaps when they are considering an upgrade, they might also ‘Turn a Life Around’ and give someone with autism and speech delay a chance to communicate what they want,” Ms Domican said.

The former Ballarat resident now lives in Ireland and is the mother of two autistic children. 

Ms Domican is back in Australia visiting family and jumped at the chance to spread the word about the Grace App in aid of the Turn a Life Around project.

She spoke in Ballarat earlier this week and raised about $500 towards the project.

“We’re hoping to raise a similar amount in Bendigo,” she said. “This is all about the power of communication – everyone deserves the right to say exactly what they want.”

For more information about the Grace App visit www.graceapp.com or to find out more about the Turn a Life Around project visit www.turnalifearound.com.au