Navigating disabled dating sites, social groups and clubs 

One in five Australians live with a disability, both physical and intellectual. According to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, people living with a disability are more likely to be impacted by poor mental health, including loneliness. This has been particularly prevalent over the past 12 months, with Coronavirus essentially locking people indoors for weeks or months at a time. For people with a disability, this social isolation has led to anxiety, and has limited the chance to get out, meet other people and even go on dates.

The dating world in 2021 can be complicated, and the world of disabled dating can add another layer of complexity. If you care for a young adult living with a psychosocial or intellectual disability and you’ve noticed that loneliness has been creeping up, there is good news. It is possible to make a change.

Is dating right for your young adult?

Young adults living with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities are just like everyone else – they crave companionship, have sexual feelings, and may get butterflies when talking to people of the opposite (or same) sex. But they may also be unsure how to interact with someone they find attractive. They could be scared of the other person's reaction or simply unsure what they should and could be doing themselves. If your child has been asking questions, showing curiosity about romantic relationships, or they’ve directly asked you about dating and falling in love, perhaps even talked about starting a family of their own - it’s time to take the next step.

How to prepare them for dating 

Before you jump in the deep end, you should do a few things to ensure they are ready.

• Make sure you have “the talk” with them.
• Help to build their self-esteem so they don’t engage in behaviour that could put them at risk of abuse.
• Ensure your child understands what is, and isn’t, appropriate in public places.
• Talk to them about dating. How to be well groomed, what qualities they are looking for in a partner, how to treat a partner and how to be treated themselves.

If they want to date someone who doesn’t live with a disability, make sure you talk to them about that. They need to be open and honest, and to be able to explain their disabilities to someone else, rather than trying to hide them. Let them know that they may be judged, but that’s okay – it’s not a reflection of them, but rather the person who has judged them.

Before the big day comes around, you might like to have a practice date with them, to help reduce some of the anxiety around it. While they are on the date, leave them be. Don’t hover nearby and don’t step in. After the date, make sure you check in and ask how it went, what was good about it and what wasn’t. Also, did anything happen that they want to ask questions about?

It would be best if you offered as much support as possible while at the same time respecting their right to privacy.

Looking for disabled dating services in Logan, Brisbane or Gold Coast?

Finding appropriate dating sites and social groups can be difficult, so your best option is to talk to your NDIS plan manager or support worker to discuss options. This will help to mitigate risks and ease the struggles associated with social activities.

Otherwise, you can do your own research. There are a number of methods you can try for disabled dating in South East Queensland. Websites like Disabled Mate, Disabled Singles Dating, Single Disabled all have contacts in the local area. These operate the same as every dating site – you put your details in, create a profile, and see if you match with other people on the site.

There are also other ways you can meet people, such as Facebook networking groups for Queenslanders living with a disability. Do some research or talk to people you know who may have already been through the same process. Networking events are also a great way for your child to meet someone, so check your local support groups to see if they have any events.

Remember, your child currently lives with daily struggles – so, they’ve got this! Let them get out, be themselves, and meet understanding people who could potentially be their life partner. It’s all part of their life lessons, and your role as parent / carer is to support them every step of the way.