How to Start Disabled Dating

The Internet has revolutionized the dating world. Online dating services make meeting people much easier than in the past. For people with disabilities, the news is even better: through specialized online dating services, disabled people can connect with each other in an accessible, non-threatening way. If you're disabled and looking for love, an online dating site could help you kick-start a romance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Locate an online disability dating service. Look for a service that is free and has a large membership, with many members near you.
2. Read the dating service's rules and about how it works. Talk to other members in the forums about their experiences using the site. Decide whether it matches your needs.
3. Create your online profile or personal ad, describing yourself and what you're looking for in a relationship. Include a flattering but realistic photo of yourself, and be honest about your disability. Highlight the personal qualities that make you unique.
4. Peruse the listings on the dating site of your choice, and contact those individuals that seem attractive to you. Post your own listing and wait for others to contact you.
5. Communicate through emails at first with anyone you connect with--this gives you time to get to know each other before meeting face to face. Share information about yourself and decide if you want to meet this person offline. Be upfront about your disability, but remember it's not the only thing others want to know about you.
6. Meet in a public place at first, clarifying before you go how handicapped accessible the venue is. Take your time in sharing too much personal information until you feel comfortable with your date.

Tips & Warnings

• Be yourself. Anyone you meet on a disabled dating site is also disabled, so be as open as you can be about your limitations and know that your dates will understand.
• Don't have intimate contact with a date before knowing something about his or her health history. Discuss sexually transmitted diseases and any other condition that may affect a sexual relationship between you.