Jamie McCallum's follow-up piece about his Down's Syndrome daughter, Rosie, now two years old, touched me deeply (What not to say about Rosie, Essay of the week, March 22).
The article was a skilful balance of insight into the McCallums' family life with two other children, observation on the impact of ill-considered remarks of strangers when seeing Rosie for the first time along with a gentle plea for even more societal change in attitudes towards those with Down's Syndrome or other learning difficulties.
Jamie's comment that younger people are "consistently more accepting" as a result of increased contact with special needs pupils in mainstream education, is encouraging and heartening. The challenge is for older generations to review their own attitudes and reactions when faced with those with Down's Syndrome - and show humanity and humility in those reactions. We all have a lot to learn.
Brian Donnelly
Clarkston
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