Love, Dating, Relationships and Disability
We’re exploring love in many forms with first-hand accounts from the frontlines of dating, marriage, intimacy and friendship, all with people living—and loving—with disabilities.
Does it seem more difficult to find love if you have a disability? Many of our interviewees said that, at first, yes. (Of course, when is it ever easy, right?) But they all agreed that once people talk and get past questions or concerns, love is love—sometimes it’s messy but mostly it’s marvelous. And these stories show it.
Jump ahead to stories about:
Dating and disability
Our favorite proposals
Love and marriage
Friendship
Siblings
Sex, intimacy, and more on our blog
Dating and Disability
Love is Blind: A Series on Long-Distance Relationships during COVID-19
Alicia shares her story about love, accessibility, and long-distance relationships during the pandemic as a blind woman.
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4
The Dos and Don'ts of Digitally Finding Love
Erin Hawley has tried online dating with websites for people with disabilities, general online dating websites as well as social media. She's sharing all she's learned with you. Online Dating 101 with a Disability
Take Me As I Am: Dating and Disability Etiquette
Social worker and disability rights consultant Vilissa Thompson shares her experience dating as a women with a disability and offers tips for potential suiters unfamiliar with disability.
Check out Vilissa's etiquette tips
Spouses With Autism Share Both Sides of Their Love Story
Anita and Abraham, a married couple who both have ASD, give a "He Said, She Said" take on their story.
Read more about how they really fell in love.
How to Make the First Date Great When Dating with a Disability
Amy Taklif, a medical social worker, offers first date etiquette and advice on how to stay true to yourself while looking for love.
A Psychologist Who Uses Her Own Dating-with-a-Disability Advice
Dr. Sheypuk is a clinical psychologist who specializes in dating, relationships and sexuality among people with disabilities.
Get Dr. Sheypuk's tried and true dating advice.
Dating and Relationships with Autism
Maurice Snell, who has ASD, shares his journey in love and relationships, including his best dating advice.
Getting Past Fears of Dating with a Disability
Chad Cunningham shied away from the dating scene until his 20s. Find out what clicked to get him dating and, ultimately, finding love. Plus find out his big news!
Marriage proposals
Here are a few romantic, unique, and even funny stories of marriage proposals, plus life after the wedding.
Love and Marriage
Watch: From First Date to Wedding Day
Bridget and George share their story, from first date to wedding day, and learn more about the ways in which they support each other. Watch their video
A Wedding, A Wheelchair and No Worries
Palmer Harston Williams shares her love story and her creative ideas for planning a wheelchair accessible wedding.
Get Palmer's wedding planning advice now.
Marriage after 50 Years
Two couples share the ups and downs of marriage after 50 years.
Read the O'Sullivans' and Demers' stories.
Seeing Beyond the Disability
Elizabeth Wampler stumbled into love with Steve, an adventurous sportsman with cerebral palsy (CP). He often navigates the world with a wheelchair or a mountain-climbing harness while Elizabeth takes on life with the kind of humor and honesty that may make you blush and befriend her all at once. Read Elizabeth and Steve’s love story.
Military couples, military separations
Friendship
Making Friends is Hard to Do (Especially With a Disability) - Rachelle Chapman offers some candid experiences about friendship with a disability.
Bonding Over Disability and Then Some
Shayne and Kristen have been friends since they were 3 years old, connecting over school, movies and even their shared disability. Read their story of friendship and support.
A Nurse and Friend
Ben Trockman finds independence while being cared for by his nurse and friend. Read about Ben's relationship with his nurse.
Siblings
A Sister's Love
Mary Sykes gives a first-hand account on caring for her sister who has Down syndrome. Read their story of love and sisterhood.
Brothers and Sisters
First-hand quotes from brothers with sisters who are living with disabilities such as Down syndrome. Read these touching quotes on siblings who have disabilities.
Sex, intimacy, and more on the blog
Here are some of our favorite blog posts on intimacy and disability.
- How did a volunteer become one of Beth Finke's lifelong friends? Find out in this heartwarming story of friendship.
- Our blogger talks about the gratitude and love she feels for her retired service dog, Hanni, on her birthday.
- Bryan McMurray shares the heartwarming story of his marriage to his wife, Joanna, and how they support each other each and every day.
- 9-year-old Anja paints a touching picture of her relationship with her dad, whom she calls code name 'Atticus' from To Kill a Mockingbird.
- Katie Irey pens a touching tribute to her late Uncle Gerald, remarking on his relentless encouragement and sense of humor.
- Katie Banister explores intimacy in her post "But how?" as well as a second post titled "What's love got to do with it?"
- Katherine Duke shares what inspired her to write the non-fiction book Kissability: People with Disabilities Talk about Sex, Love, and Relationships.
- Blog Coordinator Beth Finke gives a candid account of her relationship with her son who has disabilities.
- Mary Mucci shares what it's like being in a long-term relationship with someone with an auditory processing disorder.
- On the flipside, Mackenzie Olsberg opens up from the perspective of the person who has the auditory processing disorder. She reveals how well her boyfriend understands her.
- Beth Finke tells us about the moment she realized that intimacy was just as good, if not better, after losing her sight.
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