Imagine | Autumn 2023
A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
Imagine | Autumn 2023 A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
Imagine | Autumn 2023
A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
ZACH
Imagine changing the
law at the age of 11.
On 7 December 2022, Zach Eagling stayed up late to watch the moment he made history. Zach’s Law, the first ever law to protect people with epilepsy, was passed in Parliament.
Targeted by online trolls
At three years old, Zach was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering a brain injury at birth. He has difficulty with his mobility and cognitive development, and lives with epilepsy.
Zach was one of the first victims of a social media attack designed to cause seizures when trolls flooded the Epilepsy Society’s Twitter account with flashing images and GIFs. He was targeted after his mum shared a fundraising page with details of Zach’s challenge to complete laps of his garden during lockdown.
Tagging and hashtags meant the trolls reached people accessing epilepsy information and support online. The Epilepsy Society reported the attack to the police, but no one seemed able to stop it.
Zach and his mum Claire led a campaign pushing for new laws to stop online bulling and prevent similar attacks from harming people with epilepsy in the future. It’s been a surreal experience for Claire to hear her son’s name mentioned in the Houses of Parliament.
Zach’s Law will officially be passed this year.
Targeted by online trolls
At three years old, Zach was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering a brain injury at birth. He has difficulty with his mobility and cognitive development, and lives with epilepsy.
Zach was one of the first victims of a social media attack designed to cause seizures when trolls flooded the Epilepsy Society’s Twitter account with flashing images and GIFs. He was targeted after his mum shared a fundraising page with details of Zach’s challenge to complete laps of his garden during lockdown.
Tagging and hashtags meant the trolls reached people accessing epilepsy information and support online. The Epilepsy Society reported the attack to the police, but no one seemed able to stop it.
Zach and his mum Claire led a campaign pushing for new laws to stop online bulling and prevent similar attacks from harming people with epilepsy in the future. It’s been a surreal experience for Claire to hear her son’s name mentioned in the Houses of Parliament.
Zach’s Law will officially be passed this year.
“People would spend years and years without ever changing one law. So to be an 11-year-old and to be able to change the law, which is going to go down in the history books, is absolutely incredible.” says Nathan Draper, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Epilepsy Society.
Zach didn’t stop there
Zach and Claire have worked with social media platforms around preventing strobing images on the internet. They even attended the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester to meet with MPs who sit on the joint committee for online harms.
Public sympathy following reports of the attack drove support for Zach’s fundraising campaign. News of the young boy walking 130 laps of his garden for the 2.6 Challenge, held in place of the London Marathon, captured hearts. Even more so because Zach only started walking independently without his frame in 2020, after leaving it at school during lockdown.
Together Zach and Claire have raised over £20,000 for the Epilepsy Society.
In recognition of all he’s achieved Zach won the Outstanding Achievement Award (under 12 years) at the 2022 Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards.
Zach didn’t stop there
Zach and Claire have worked with social media platforms around preventing strobing images on the internet. They even attended the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester to meet with MPs who sit on the joint committee for online harms.
Public sympathy following reports of the attack drove support for Zach’s fundraising campaign. News of the young boy walking 130 laps of his garden for the 2.6 Challenge, held in place of the London Marathon, captured hearts. Even more so because Zach only started walking independently without his frame in 2020, after leaving it at school during lockdown.
Together Zach and Claire have raised over £20,000 for the Epilepsy Society.
In recognition of all he’s achieved Zach won the Outstanding Achievement Award (under 12 years) at the 2022 Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards.
Why are flashing images so dangerous for people with epilepsy?
Experience of epilepsy is different for each person. A single seizure can be devastating both physically and psychologically. People may feel confused, upset, or unwell afterwards. They may even suffer injuries if they fall during the seizure.
Photosensitive epilepsy is when seizures are triggered by certain rates of flashing lights or contrasting light and dark patterns. This form of epilepsy is more common in children and young people.
For adults, just one seizure can mean giving up their driving licence for a year, a milestone targeted by the trolls during the attack.
Securing support for Zach
Following his diagnosis of cerebral palsy, Zach was referred to us by Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA) to investigate the care he received when he was born.
Early interim payments in his legal case meant he could see a speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist. Having a team of experts around him makes a huge difference to how he feels and what he can do.
We later secured a settlement that gives Zach access to the lifetime specialist treatment and therapies he needs.
Securing support for Zach
Following his diagnosis of cerebral palsy, Zach was referred to us by Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA) to investigate the care he received when he was born.
Early interim payments in his legal case meant he could see a speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist. Having a team of experts around him makes a huge difference to how he feels and what he can do. We later secured a settlement that gives Zach access to the lifetime specialist treatment and therapies he needs.
Rachelle Mahapatra
Partner
“Zach is one of the bravest young men I’ve had the privilege of getting to know. He’s not only defied the odds time and time again when it comes to his disability, but he and Claire have also continued to push forward with their online bullying campaign. It’s fantastic to see Zach making such a difference and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”
AvMA provides support and advice to thousands of people affected by avoidable harm in healthcare.
The AvMA helpline is staffed by specially trained volunteers, both medical and legal professionals, who offer a sympathetic ear and provide practical advice about your options following a medical injury.
“AvMA’s independence is an extremely important part of who we are, how we’ve been able to develop, and indeed how we’re able to give advice.” says Lisa O’Dwyer, Medico-Legal Services Director – AvMA
AvMA is the charity for patient safety and justice.
Helpline: 0345 123 2352
(Monday – Friday 10.00 am to 3:30 pm)
If I can do this at 11, what else can I do.
Zach
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