What 'Special Needs Mommy' Influencers Get Wrong About Parenting Disabled Kids: Opinion

May 23, 2026 - 01:06

Oversharing about a child's disability has turned into a profitable trend on social media. For disability justice advocate Rebecca Cokley, these videos look a lot like a modern version of the old circus freak show.

Parents who call themselves "special needs mommy" influencers often post intimate details of their children's medical routines, meltdowns, and daily struggles. They film therapy sessions, diaper changes, and moments of distress. The content gets millions of views and brings in sponsorships from brands selling adaptive gear or supplements.

But Cokley argues that these parents are repeating a harmful pattern. In the past, people with disabilities were put on display for public curiosity. Now, parents are doing the same thing for likes and money. The child has no say in what gets shared. They cannot consent to having their most vulnerable moments broadcast to strangers.

The problem is not that parents need support or want to normalize disability. The issue is that the child becomes a prop for the parent's personal brand. The focus shifts from the child's humanity to the parent's struggle. Viewers watch to feel inspired or grateful that their own lives are easier.

Cokley says the trend also reinforces stereotypes. It paints disabled children as burdens or sources of endless hardship. It ignores the joy, humor, and full lives these kids actually have. Real advocacy, she argues, centers the disabled person's voice, not the parent's performance.