Zaheer Jan
In Jammu and Kashmir, the journey of raising a child with special needs is fraught with challenges that most of society rarely sees. For parents, it is a full-time responsibility, a constant effort to ensure their child receives the best possible care, therapy, and education. Unfortunately, many of these parents find themselves battling not just the difficulties associated with their child’s condition but also the deception and humiliation they encounter at the very institutions meant to help.
As a Pediatric Rehabilitation Therapist, I have worked closely with children suffering from conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders. Over the years, I have witnessed a troubling pattern in our rehabilitation centers and special schools—unqualified professionals administering crucial therapies, leading to misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and, ultimately, serious setbacks for the children involved.
Parents often approach these centers in good faith, unaware of the differences between rehabilitation therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. And why should they know? They trust that the professionals they turn to for help will be qualified and capable. Yet, many of these Child Development Centers (CDCs) are run by individuals who lack the necessary certifications and training.
This is not just a case of malpractice; it is a gross violation of trust. It is also a violation of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) guidelines and the RPWD Act 2016, which clearly state that only registered professionals can work with children with special needs. Despite this, many parents have shared heartbreaking stories of their children receiving speech or occupational therapy from unqualified counselors or physiotherapists. Worse, those who question these practices are often met with humiliation or even exclusion from these centers.
I have heard from numerous parents who, after paying large fees, find that their child is being treated by someone without the proper credentials. In some cases, it is not just ineffective but harmful. Children with Autism, for example, have experienced severe regressions in their behavior after receiving improper therapies. It is a cruel irony that in trying to provide their child with the best possible care, parents are being misled and, in some cases, are unwittingly contributing to their child’s struggles.
Equally alarming is the issue of misdiagnosis. In several CDCs, counselors are performing psychological evaluations—a task that should only be undertaken by qualified clinical psychologists. This leads to incorrect diagnoses, which in turn hampers families’ ability to obtain disability certificates for their children, making it even more difficult to access the necessary services and education their children are entitled to.
The state government has taken some steps, such as issuing a circular from the State Disability Commissioner of J&K, requiring that only registered rehabilitation professionals head these centers. But enforcement remains lax, and many centers continue to operate under the leadership of individuals who lack the expertise needed to guide these institutions.
The exploitation of parents of children with special needs in Jammu and Kashmir must end. The rising incidence of Autism, ADHD, and other disabilities in the region makes it all the more urgent that we address these issues. There are simply too few resources for children with special needs, and parents are willing to go to great lengths—and often spend significant amounts of money—to secure the right therapies for their children. Unfortunately, too many are being taken advantage of by unscrupulous operators who offer little in the way of real treatment.
As a professional, I am calling for immediate action from the government. The Health Department and relevant authorities must conduct thorough inspections of all child development centers and special schools, especially those run by NGOs. Every therapist’s qualifications must be verified, and centers that fail to meet standards should be shut down. We owe it to these children—and their parents—to ensure that they are not just receiving treatment but receiving the right treatment from qualified professionals.
I also urge parents to take an active role in this process. It is your right to ask questions about the qualifications of the individuals treating your child. Before enrolling your child in any center, ask about the staff’s credentials. Don’t be afraid to demand transparency. It is essential to ensure your child’s care is in the hands of professionals who are trained to meet their unique needs.
Our children deserve better. They deserve to be treated with dignity, and their parents deserve honesty and respect from the institutions they rely on for help. It is time to bring these hidden struggles to light and to push for real, meaningful change in the way we care for children with special needs in Jammu and Kashmir.
The writer Zaheer Jan is a Paediatric Rehabilitation Therapist & Social Worker
