Dating with Barriers: Creative & Adaptable

People with disabilities face so many complex barriers that can be really overwhelming and frustrating. One of Relate-Ability's main goals is to provide spaces that remove barriers, so that our members can focus on socialising and having fun.

Today, we want to share some lighthearted stories from people with disabilities about overcoming barriers while dating. This reminds us that love and relationships can be found in unexpected ways.

Here are some of our favourite stories:

• "I use a wheelchair and once, while on a date, we went to a restaurant that wasn't accessible. My date carried me up the stairs and into the restaurant. It was a bit embarrassing, but also incredibly sweet."

• "I'm deaf and I once went on a date with a hearing person who didn't know sign language. We communicated by typing on our phones and drawing pictures on napkins. It was a bit chaotic, but also a lot of fun."

• "I have a visual impairment and once, while on a date, we went to a movie theater that didn't have audio description. My date ended up whispering descriptions of the scenes to me throughout the movie. It was hilarious and made the experience so much better."

  
  

People with disabilities are creative and adapt all the time. Socially, we have a long way to go in creating spaces that are accessible to all people. Think about something small that you can do in order to be more inclusive. Learning more about the barriers people face, how to respectfully comminucate, the politically correct language to use.

Are you interested in our educational workshops all about Safe & Healthy Relationships? You can book an online session, just click here!

#consent #sexualconsent #boundaries #bodylanguage #healthyrelationships #saferelationships #relateability