Learning Disability Week means a great deal to me and my friend Kate, not just as mothers, but as campaigners. We’re founding members of Restraint Reduction Scotland.

Our children (now grown) Calum and Laura were both subjected to restraint and seclusion in school. That painful, shared experience is what brought Kate and me together. Since then, we’ve spent years supporting hundreds of families and campaigning tirelessly to end these harmful practices.

What happened to our children should never have happened.

My son Calum was restrained and secluded when he was just a young boy. It was described as “support,” but it caused trauma that stayed with him for years. Fourteen years later, he was finally diagnosed with PTSD. There was no psychological support, no follow-up, and no one asking how we, as a family, were coping. We were left to figure it out on our own.

Kate’s daughter Laura was also subjected to restrictive practices. Staff would take her to a room that looked playful on the outside, almost like a bouncy castle, but she was locked inside and couldn’t leave. That experience left deep scars. To this day, Laura cannot be in a room with the door closed. This is the real impact of restraint and seclusion.

Back in 2014, Kate and I submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for urgent change. We brought the voices of families into the room, but for years, progress was painfully slow. At times, it felt like we were shouting into a void. Only now, in 2025, does it finally feel like the tide is turning.

That’s why we’ve been campaigning for Calum’s Law, to make sure no other family has to go through what we did. The law would ensure restraint and seclusion are only ever used when absolutely necessary, and always with proper oversight. It would mean families are kept informed and involved. And it would bring accountability to the systems meant to care for our children.

This year, Learning Disability Week arrives at a critical moment. The Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill, introduced by Daniel Johnson MSP, is now going through Parliament. The Scottish Government has said it will support the Bill, and with cross-party backing, we are closer than ever to real and lasting change.

But Kate and I believe we must go further. This law must protect all children, not just in schools, but in every setting. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a system that truly respects children’s rights and puts their wellbeing first.

Learning Disability Week isn’t just about awareness, it’s about action. For us, this fight is personal. It’s about restoring dignity, protecting childhoods, and listening to the real stories behind the policies.

So, this week, we ask you to stand with us. Support the Bill. Share Calum’s Law. And help build a future where no child is harmed in the name of care.