The parent of an eight-year-old child with special needs, undergoing therapy sessions run by a Srinagar-based NGO’s rehabilitation centre, was shocked to see that the photographs of the child were being circulated by a Mumbai-based NGO, raising funds in the name of the child.
The parent from Nawakadal, Srinagar, informed me that he had admitted his 8-year-old child to a rehabilitation center run by an NGO for therapy and behavioral modification sessions. Though he pays for hourly sessions, leave alone his consent, he was not even informed about how his child’s photographs were being misused on social media.
The parent approached both the rehabilitation centre and the Mumbai-based NGO and questioned why his son’s picture was uploaded on social media for fundraising purposes. The family also questioned why funds were being raised when they are already paying the required monthly fees for the therapy services.
This incident has raised serious ethical and legal concerns among parents of special needs children in the area. They believe that using children’s photographs and identities for fundraising is a violation of privacy and the rights of the child.
After the shocking incident came to light, several other parents have rightly begun to urge the government and child rights bodies to take strict and appropriate action against those involved in such practices.
They urge the authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that clear guidelines are enforced so that children with special needs are not exploited or used for fundraising or business promotional activities without proper permission and transparency in the future.
A Breach of Confidentiality
The incident, not an aberration, unravels a disturbing trend: some rehabilitation child development centers, special schools, NGOs and therapy centers are turning private therapy sessions into public shows by sharing intimate moments of children on social media.
Places meant to help children heal and trust are being used for attention, profit or business promotion, hurting children’s confidence and exposing them to digital harm. The focus on making money from care turns children from individuals with rights into tools for content creation and fundraising.
Therapy sessions, whether for mental health, developmental challenges or rehabilitation, rely on complete confidentiality. Children open up about their fears, frustrations and traumas only when they trust that their private experiences will stay secure. Professional ethics and laws exist to protect this trust.
When sessions are recorded or shared online, this trust is broken. Children may stop talking, parents can be misled about consent and therapists face ethical dilemmas. The bond between the child and therapist, vital for healing and growth, is damaged.
Social Media Exploitation
Social media has created a culture where every milestone, struggle or breakthrough is turned into "content." Some centers and influencers exploit therapy sessions sharing children’s challenges as stories or case studies. While these posts seem to celebrate progress, they reveal information to millions. For children who can't fully consent, the psychological and social consequences can be severe and lasting.
Parents of children with special needs are rightly concerned about the misuse of children’s photographs, videos by certain organizations and Rehab Centers.
Legal Protections vs. Reality
Children with needs have equal rights under the law but across India, these rights are often ignored or not enforced properly. Despite laws like the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and the Juvenile Justice Act 2015, many children still face problems accessing education, therapy, and healthcare.
Limited access to schooling, specialised therapy and adaptive healthcare excludes many children, leaving them without the support they need. That therapists and institutions are violating confidentiality serves as yet another blow to child rights.
It shows that despite the existence of some laws, enforcement is weak and digital exploitation is largely unchecked. There's a gap between what the law promises and the reality.
The lack of laws on sharing therapeutic content online allows violations to continue with little accountability. Therapy sessions meant to support children are often shared online without oversight exposing them to stigma and lifelong harm.
The Silence of Child Rights Bodies
You'd expect child rights commissions and advocacy groups to act strongly. Many stay silent or react slowly. Reasons include outdated privacy laws, a focus on physical abuse rather than online exposure, and the assumption that parental consent is enough.
This silence sends a dangerous message: the digital exploitation of vulnerable children is tolerated, if not ignored. Despite circulars from Child Welfare Committees banning the sharing of therapy sessions or children with special needs on social media, many NGOs and special schools continue to violate these directives.
These circulars exist only on paper, on the ground, they are followed in breach. Some institutions even exploit children to promote donations through Zakat, Khariyat, or general fundraising further commodifying vulnerability.
The Vulnerability of Children in Digital Spaces
Children with needs face unique challenges online. Those who are neurodivergent or have physical disabilities may not understand the consequences of being recorded or shared online.
Therapy sessions reveal behaviours and personal progress that could be stigmatised or misused. These children can't fully advocate for their rights, placing the responsibility on caregivers, therapists and institutions.
An Ethical Breach
Recording or sharing therapy sessions is not a privacy violation; it's a serious ethical breach. Professionals in Rehabilitation and special education must follow strict standards to protect dignity and autonomy.
Consent should never be taken for granted. Children’s best interests must come first. Exploiting therapy sessions for marketing, testimonials, or online recognition commodifies human vulnerability and undermines the very purpose of care and support.
Sharing therapy sessions online can have repercussions. Children may face bullying, identity theft or unwanted attention. Once personal information is online, it can't be erased.
Emotional trauma worsens with scrutiny and perpetuating stereotypes frames children with special needs as objects of curiosity rather than individuals with rights. This exposure can affect education, employment and personal relationships into adulthood.
A Call to Action
Protecting the digital rights of children with special needs requires urgent, coordinated action.
Rehabilitation centers must have strict social media policies against filming therapy sessions. While they can upload the videos, the faces of children must not be revealed.
Child rights organizations must oversee privacy violations in therapy. Caregivers must be educated on the long-term consequences of sharing content. Professional associations should train therapists and educators on digital practices.
Laws need reforms to recognise children’s rights to control their identities.
Every child deserves spaces of trust, privacy, and dignity. In the digital age, safeguarding these spaces is not optional. It is a moral, ethical, and legal imperative. Protecting the integrity of therapeutic environments is crucial not only for individual development but also for building a society that respects the rights and autonomy of its most vulnerable members.
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