The Truth About Disabled Dating Websites
If you're in a wheelchair, or even if you know someone who is, you know how hard it can be for anyone with a disability to have a normal life. Eating out, shopping, going to the beach - everything that you used to do without a second thought now becomes a chore or a struggle, thanks to millions of eyes staring at you in horrified curiosity.
However, all of these things pale when it comes to one of the most important factors in a "normal" life: dating. Is she only going out with me because she feels bad for me? Does he see me or just my prosthetic leg? So it makes sense that companies would capitalize on this need for acceptance in the romantic world by creating dating sites specifically for disabled people.
Suspicion is a natural first reaction. Who knows if you'll run into someone playing a cruel joke, or if you'll end up with someone who needs just as much care as you do? But surprisingly enough, such websites seem to bring more happiness than disappointment.
In a New York Times article, Sherry Nevius praises the rise of dating sites for handicapped people, observing that it's hard enough to meet someone with similar interests, much less someone who can be okay with your disability - knowing that you'll be surrounded by people with the same struggles as you puts both parties "on equal ground." In the same article, the creator of a dating site for those with specific diseases adds that such sites take the pressure off: "Here everyone knows you have [disease], so it gets that barrier out of the way." Merryl Kaplan agrees, saying that the uncomfortable and occasionally gross issues that come with various handicaps are able to be freely discussed on dating sites catering specifically to the disabled.
In addition to being able to meet folks who can understand you on a deeper level , disabled dating sites come with another perk: most are usually free, since they're almost always run by one person or a small group of people.
However, as with anything in the online world, such places come with their cons as well as their pros. People warn against the hundreds of spammers lurking in one popular site, dating4disabled.com, while others advise new users to be wary of folks fishing for money rather than a relationship.
Some suggest turning to Craigslist for those who want less of a hassle when it comes to hidden fees and privacy, saying that Craigslist offers a little more anonymity than dating sites. And still others recommend just searching around regular dating sites - more often than not, similar sites targeting disabled people often have an unusually small membership compared to mainstream dating sites, with many users reporting little to no response from people they're interested in.
Ultimately, the truth about disabled dating sites - and any website for people ready to mingle again in general, really - is that you'll never know until you try it. One man endured twelve straight rejections before someone finally talked to him. With hard work and perseverance, who knows? Signing up for one of these websites just might lead you to the person of your dreams.