A Different Kind of Date
By Camille Noe Pagan
Online dating sites now cater to those with health or disability issues.
Meeting potential dating partners can be tough. But throw in a chronic illness or disability, and the search can become even more complicated.
“If you’re ill or disabled, you want to find love like everyone else. But it can be intimidating to put yourself out into the dating field,” says Wendy Wolf, founder of Differently Abled Winners Network (D.A.W.N.), an online matchmaking service.
In the past five to 10 years, dating Web sites for people with particular interests and backgrounds – such as politics, religion, hobbies and health conditions – have proliferated. But why choose a site targeted to such a specific group?
“Some people may feel more comfortable in an online environment in which their condition is out in the open,” explains Tracy Saks, founder of Special Singles Online, a four-year-old dating site with approximately 4,000 members. “They also may be interested in meeting other people with disabilities.”
“It’s only natural to gravitate to another person with a background or experience similar to your own,” agrees Stephanie Buehler, a psychologist and sex therapist in private practice in Irvine, Calif., who specializes in sexuality, dating and illness.
Although the bigger, more mainstream dating sites, such as eHarmony or Match.com, don’t cater specifically to people with disabilities, members always have the option of mentioning in their profile if they have a chronic illness or are looking for a dating partner who does, says Galen Buckwalter, PhD, vice president, research and development, at eHarmony.
“If an individual is looking for a person with a similar condition, these niche sites may provide a good opportunity for that,” Buckwalter says. “On the other hand, the pool of candidates will be a lot smaller than with a larger dating site. The most important thing is that people take the time to see what’s out there and educate themselves about the various sites.”
If you’re interested in trying a specialized dating site, check out the ones listed below. “At the very least, you’ll make a friend or two,” says Wolf. “And that alone, for most people, makes it well worth the effort.”
5 Dating Sites to Try:
Differently Abled Winners Network
Disabled Dating Club
EnableLove
Lovebyrd
Special Singles Online
