Dating may be a nerve wracking experience for anyone, but this is especially true if you’re disabled. Nowadays, social networking sites such a MySpace and Facebook are the modern day analogue of the old meet and greet.   These sites could work with you in finding people, with the added benefit of not having to actually meet them face to face. But no matter the way you opt to meet people, there are some basic tips to making dating easier. The next few strategies are specifically designed for disabled dating.

To begin with, it’s vital to keep your attention on your date, and not your disability. You will be anxious and insecure if you are always thinking about your disability. If you are continuously intent on your disability, you could attract more attention to it when you’re on your date. Some people panic about it to the level that they make the mistake of trying to impress their date by concealing all their imperfections.  You wish your date to like you for who you are, so you should never try to put on a fake persona to impress someone.

You additionally need to learn how to tell the difference between concern and pity. People who’ve never dated a person with disabilities could be uneducated of that person’s capabilities, and this can be misunderstood as pity. You want to understand and not get irritated, due to the fact that it’s just a result of them being nervous and unsure. 

It even helps to be able to laugh at yourself, especially in those odd moments. Being able to laugh at yourself will work to lessen the stress and anxiety of the situation, and will also show the person your sense of humor.  Try and get a certain comfort level at the very beginning of the date. This could help to keep things flowing smoothly, and cut down on the number of awkward moments.

Relaxing and taking your time learning about your disabled date is also very important. But you should never release too much personal information, especially on the first date. You need to establish a particular level of trust with people before you start revealing personal details about your life. With this you can reduce your risk of being taken advantage of. You want to be cognizant of the fact that you can’t trust people until you get to know them.

You additionally want to keep in mind that just because you’re disabled, that doesn’t mean you have to settle. You have the right to date someone that you’re actually interested in. By simply settling for anyone who shows a little interest, you are depriving yourself of the chance to find your true match. You even want to be forthcoming with yourself at all times. Realize that merely because you happen to carry a disability, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve happiness. Bear in mind, the first date is merely a tryout to find out if you have anything in common with the other person.

It’s also never smart to be offered too much to drink on the first date. Drinking too much will affect your judgment, leaving you to make poor decisions and take risks. Don’t give someone an opportunity to take advantage of you and your situation. 

Listening to your gut instincts is perhaps the most important dating for disabled tip of all. If you get a gut feeling that dating a specific person is bad or not safe, then you need to follow that instinct, even if it means leaving the date early. If you bear these tips in mind, then you can boost your odds of meeting that someone special.