Disabled Dating Sites
Whispers4U
Whispers4U has been around since 2002, and the website touts the ability to help “differently abled” people find love and support in a safe environment. It offers free and paid memberships that come with access to different features such as video tutorials, webcam chatting, instant messenger, database search, 24/7 support, virtual flirting and email. Plus, Whispers4U regularly checks for scammers and removes fraudulent profiles so real singles are better protected. The website was also a finalist in the iDate awards for best niche dating site.
Dating4Disabled
Dating4Disabled is a free, online dating site that allows users to meet, date and share resources with other people with disabilities. There are no contracts, everything is confidential and the website offers a range of tools, including forums, a messenger service and a smart search function. The options here are fairly standard among online dating options, but the community works together to help others find romance, friendships or disability resources.
Special Bridge
Special Bridge is a private, family-owned and operated social community for people with disabilities that is slightly new to the online dating scene. Although the website emphasizes its capacity as a dating service, Special Bridge is more than another cookie-cutter dating site. Its real purpose is connecting people with disabilities to other people with disabilities, whether that’s for friends, romance or even pen pals. The website has the standard array of services: messaging, customizable profiles and matchmaking services. But it also goes one step further to protect its users and offers more in-depth services, such as background checks for anybody who you’re worried about meeting up with.
Disabled Passions
Disabled Passions is a social networking community with more than just matchmaking services. It offers a variety of content related to disabilities and dating, including funny videos, games and collected resources. As with many other dating sites for people with disabilities, it also offers the opportunity to date or make friends through chat, secure email and message boards.
Dating Advice for People with Disabilities
Pick an accessible meet-up place
As any experienced wheelchair user knows, getting around town may not be the easiest thing to do unless you have a wheelchair van. When you are meeting up with somebody for a date, we suggest choosing a comfortable location that you know can accommodate your needs. This helps focus your attention on getting to know your date, instead of struggling against potential environmental barriers.
Be honest about your disability in your profile
Online dating gives us vetting opportunities for potential suitors, and not everyone may be interested in dating someone with a disability. To eliminate these mixed matches, be honest about your disability in your profile. It prevents any miscommunication snafus and shattered expectations. Dr. Sheypuk’s Q&A has more excellent points on this matter.
Don’t focus on your disability
Being honest about your disability is important, but you’re more than just a disabled person. The brunt of your profile and first date should be about you (and your date); if your date is only interested in talking about your disability, then try steering the conversation toward more appropriate first-date subjects. If you’re up for a fun challenge, then consider this list of 36 questions designed to blossom romance and truly discover who a person is.
Other Online Dating sites and Apps
Tinder (https://tinder.com/)
- Swipe-based matching system: Users swipe right to “like” a profile or left to “pass.”
- Location-based: Tinder shows you potential matches within your chosen distance.
- In-app messaging: Matches can chat within the app to get to know each other better.
- Tinder Plus & Tinder Gold: These subscription plans offer additional features like unlimited likes, rewinding swipes, and seeing who liked your profile.
Bumble (https://bumble.com/)
- Female-driven communication: In heterosexual matches, women initiate conversations.
- BFF & Bizz modes: Users can also find friends or make professional connections.
- Location-based: Like Tinder, Bumble shows potential matches within a specific distance.
- Bumble Boost & Bumble Premium: Paid subscriptions offer extra features, such as extending matches and accessing advanced filters.
Match.com (https://www.match.com/)
- Detailed profiles: Users complete a comprehensive profile, including photos, interests, and personal information.
- Match suggestions: The platform suggests potential partners based on compatibility.
- Messaging: Users can message and chat with their matches.
- Subscription-based: A paid subscription is required to access messaging and other premium features.
eHarmony (https://www.eharmony.com/)
- Compatibility-focused: eHarmony uses a detailed questionnaire to evaluate users’ compatibility based on values, beliefs, and personality traits.
- Match suggestions: The platform provides a list of potential partners who are highly compatible with the user.
- Guided communication: eHarmony offers pre-written questions and responses to help users break the ice and communicate effectively.
- Subscription-based: A paid subscription is required to access messaging and other premium features.
Hinge (https://hinge.co/)
- Relationship-oriented: Hinge encourages users to find meaningful connections with the goal of deleting the app once they find a compatible partner.
- Detailed profiles: Users create profiles with photos and answers to prompts that showcase their personality and interests.
- Likes & comments: Users can like and comment on specific parts of a profile, fostering more personalized conversations.
- Subscription-based: Hinge offers a paid subscription called Hinge Preferred, which provides additional features like advanced filters and unlimited likes.