Ian Rankin: How the frustrations of being a special needs parent fuel his writing

FOR A large part of the past 18 months, the crime writer Ian Rankin and his wife Miranda could only see their younger son Kit through the gates of his care home. The 27-year-old has Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic condition, and requires 24-hour care. Unable to even touch their son, let alone take him home, delays in vaccinating special needs adults, who did not qualify for priority jabs, prompted a rare public intervention from the Inspector Rebus creator.