COURIER OPINION: Young people with autism and learning disabilities deserve Calum’s Law protections

Angus mum Beth Morrison has spent a decade campaigning
for the rights of people with learning disabilities.

She has been tireless in her efforts since her son, Calum, was forcefully
restrained at school more than a decade ago.

His experiences led Calum to plead on a daily basis not to go to school.

Beth is now demanding Calum’s Law, new safeguarding legislation to improve the protections afforded to young people with learning disabilities and autism.

Calum Morrison, who has epilepsy, autism and learning difficulties, was 11 when he was forcefully restrained at Kingspark School in Dundee. https://t.co/pUfRSFUbKX

— The Courier (@thecourieruk) October 27, 2022

The campaign has the backing of charity Enable Scotland, which has produced a new report questioning the progress made in safeguarding young people such as Calum in recent years.

Enable is hoping there will be cross-party support for Calum’s Law.

The proposed legislation certainly demands the attention of lawmakers.

Protections for the most vulnerable in society must be watertight.

And they must be enforced.