When you have a disability, dating can be frightening and intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. This article can help you relax and empower you to find whatever form of healthy companionship you’re looking for, whether you’re stepping into the dating scene for the first time or returning to it.
We preview a few popular dating websites for individuals with disabilities in this piece, and we talk with Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, a dating and sex expert, on dating, relationships, and sexuality among handicapped people.
Dating Advice for People with Disabilities
Pick an accessible meet-up place
Getting around town in a wheelchair is difficult, as any experienced wheelchair user knows, unless you have access to a wheelchair van. We recommend meeting up with someone for a date at a comfortable setting where you know you will be able to suit their demands. This allows you to concentrate on getting to know your date rather than on overcoming potential environmental obstacles.
Be honest about your disability in your profile
Not everyone is interested in dating someone with a disability, and online dating allows us to screen possible suitors. Be honest about your impairment in your profile to eliminate these mixed matches. It avoids snafus in communication and shattered expectations. More outstanding remarks on this subject can be found in Dr. Sheypuk’s Q&A.
Don’t focus on your disability
It’s vital to be open about your condition, but you’re more than just a disabled person. The focus of your profile and first date should be on you (and your date); if your date is primarily interested in discussing your disability, direct the conversation away from it and toward more appropriate first-date topics. If you’re looking for a fun challenge, try this list of 36 questions designed to help you find out more about someone.
Disabled Dating Sites
Whispers4U
Whispers4U has been active since 2002, and the website claims to be able to assist “differently abled” persons in finding love and support in a secure atmosphere. It offers both free and premium memberships that include access to video tutorials, webcam chatting, instant messenger, database search, 24/7 assistance, virtual flirtation, and email, among other things. Furthermore, Whispers4U monitors for scammers and removes bogus accounts on a regular basis, ensuring that genuine singles are better protected. In addition, the website was a finalist for the iDate awards for best niche dating site.
Dating4Disabled
Dating4Disabled is a free online dating service that connects people with impairments to meet, date, and share resources. There are no contracts, everything is kept private, and the website has forums, a message service, and a clever search function, among other features. Although the possibilities are fairly normal among online dating options, the community works together to help others find romance, friendships, or disability resources.
Special Bridge
Special Bridge is a newcomer to the online dating industry. It is a private, family-owned and controlled social community for people with disabilities. Special Bridge is more than just another cookie-cutter dating site, despite the fact that the website touts its capability as a dating service. Its true objective is to link persons with impairments with other disabled people, whether for friendship, romance, or even pen pals. The website offers the usual set of features, such as messaging, customisable profiles, and matchmaking. However, it goes a step further to protect its users by providing more in-depth services like background checks for anyone you’re nervous about meeting up with.