Dating with a Disability
A lighthearted look at dating with a disability
Navigating the dating world can be like exploring an unfamiliar jungle — you ’ re equipped with tools — confidence , curiosity and perhaps a dash of awkwardness in your back pocket . But when you ’ re dating with a disability , it can feel like someone added a little extra spice to that adventure — let ’ s say , a surprise hippo in your path , or a monkey tossing an unexpected coconut of assumptions your way . You laugh , you dodge , you communicate . And , just like everyone else , you ' ll eventually meet up with somone . You ' ll be wishing , looking , hoping for a spark to be ignited with that special person who sees you for you .
But first things first : let ’ s talk about the profile pic dilemma . You ’ ve got two main options — be upfront and showcase the wheelchair , service dog , or whatever gear makes you you , or let your personality do the talking in your pics and bring up the disability in conversation . It ’ s a tossup ! If you show it upfront , it might help weed out the “ oh , never mind ” folks , but some people prefer to lead with their smile , their hobbies and their wild love of sci-fi marathons . Either way , there ’ s no one-size-fitsall , just go with the vibe you ’ re most comfortable with . And remember , the right person ? They ’ re swiping because of who you are , not just the profile pic details .
Next , we ’ ve got the messaging minefield , where “ So , like , can you ...?” questions can either be handled with grace or a hearty eye-roll . A new match might mean sharing a bit about yourself and your disability . Do you jump right in , or let them bring it up ? For a lot of people , humor is the go-to . Try something like , “ Fun fact : my wheelchair is faster than most people ’ s cars in a busy city !” Or a lighthearted , “ If we date , I ’ ll finally have someone to back me up in wheelchair jousting .” Humor often helps break the ice , nudging potential partners past stereotypes and inviting them into your world .
36 Accessibilty for All To Table of Contents