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Family of Ben Gleeson say restrictions for camping and athletics amounted to a ban
The Scout Association has apologised to the family of Ben Gleeson, who accused a cub scout group of discrimination. Photograph: BBC
An 11-year-old boy with autism has received £42,000 in compensation after his family accused a cub scout group of discriminating against him.
Ben Gleeson joined the 10th Harpenden scout group in January 2015 but was later told he could not go to camps or take part in athletics without supervision, the BBC reported.
Pack leaders are said to have imposed restrictions, which his parents – both lawyers – said amounted to a ban, after Ben had a short episode at a camp in March 2016.
His parents sued the Hertfordshire group and the case was eventually settled out of court. Ben’s mother, Beverly Gleeson, told the BBC: “Pretty much every event had to be supervised on a one-to-one basis, which I felt wasn’t inclusive.
“I felt he didn’t need it. He didn’t have this level of supervision at school. He’d made one mistake and then that was it; they wanted to make the rules and regulations. It was supposed to be a dialogue.”
Gleeson described the measures as a “complete overreaction”.
The restrictions placed on Ben included not being able to travel with his fellow cub scouts on a bus to events or participate in athletics, his family said. His parents also said they were told he had to have one-to-one supervision at other events.
Ben said he was upset at being separated from his friends, adding: “I don’t like the idea of someone following me all the time.”
According to the BBC, 10th Harpenden scout group disputed some of the claims. However, the Scout Association apologised and said it had launched an investigation.
A spokesman said: “The handling of Ben’s case was completely unacceptable. We are very sorry that Ben and his family were not supported as they should have been by their Cub Scout Pack, and we have made a personal apology to them.
“While cases like this are very unusual, we know that action must be taken. We have established an inquiry to investigate what went wrong in this case.”
He said that the National Autistic Society had agreed to be part of the inquiry and Ben’s parents had also been approached to see if they would be willing to take part. The association is looking at plans for mandatory training for all volunteers on how to make reasonable adjustments for young people with developmental disabilities, he added.
Source: Scouts pay £42,000 over claim from boy with autism
Family of Ben Gleeson say restrictions for camping and athletics amounted to a ban
The Scout Association has apologised to the family of Ben Gleeson, who accused a cub scout group of discrimination. Photograph: BBC
An 11-year-old boy with autism has received £42,000 in compensation after his family accused a cub scout group of discriminating against him.
Ben Gleeson joined the 10th Harpenden scout group in January 2015 but was later told he could not go to camps or take part in athletics without supervision, the BBC reported.
Pack leaders are said to have imposed restrictions, which his parents – both lawyers – said amounted to a ban, after Ben had a short episode at a camp in March 2016.
His parents sued the Hertfordshire group and the case was eventually settled out of court. Ben’s mother, Beverly Gleeson, told the BBC: “Pretty much every event had to be supervised on a one-to-one basis, which I felt wasn’t inclusive.
“I felt he didn’t need it. He didn’t have this level of supervision at school. He’d made one mistake and then that was it; they wanted to make the rules and regulations. It was supposed to be a dialogue.”
Gleeson described the measures as a “complete overreaction”.
The restrictions placed on Ben included not being able to travel with his fellow cub scouts on a bus to events or participate in athletics, his family said. His parents also said they were told he had to have one-to-one supervision at other events.
Ben said he was upset at being separated from his friends, adding: “I don’t like the idea of someone following me all the time.”
According to the BBC, 10th Harpenden scout group disputed some of the claims. However, the Scout Association apologised and said it had launched an investigation.
A spokesman said: “The handling of Ben’s case was completely unacceptable. We are very sorry that Ben and his family were not supported as they should have been by their Cub Scout Pack, and we have made a personal apology to them.
“While cases like this are very unusual, we know that action must be taken. We have established an inquiry to investigate what went wrong in this case.”
He said that the National Autistic Society had agreed to be part of the inquiry and Ben’s parents had also been approached to see if they would be willing to take part. The association is looking at plans for mandatory training for all volunteers on how to make reasonable adjustments for young people with developmental disabilities, he added.
Source: Scouts pay £42,000 over claim from boy with autism
