Dating Sites for People with Disabilities

The most common apps are Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, but there are also dating sites designed specifically for people with disabilities, like Dateability, Special Bridge, and Hiki.

All dating apps have their pros and cons, as well as horror and success stories, and people with disabilities may face unique challenges in the digital world of dating. For example, not all dating apps are accessible to every disability, and many people struggle with deciding when and how to “disclose” their disability to a potential date online.

While it’s impossible to give blanketed dating advice to people, if you’re curious about finding a relationship online, here are some options to try (and safety tips to consider).

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to date – it’s all about finding what works for you.

Looking to connect with other people with disabilities in-person?

At Ability Montana, regular meet-ups and events in Bozeman, Helena, and Butte are a great way to get to know others, build friendships, and find connection. Check out our events calendar for upcoming groups, game nights, and other activities.

Tips for Anyone Trying Out Dating Apps

Here are some best practices to keep in mind if you decide to explore any dating app.

• Pay attention to your mental health. Dating apps (and dating in general) can be emotionally taxing. If you feel that dating apps are negatively impacting your mental health, take a break for a while, or just delete them completely. It’s not worth compromising your well-being. Being vulnerable is hard work; be kind to yourself through this process.

• Be thoughtful about when to share your disability. Some people like to share information about their disability in their profile to screen for the right matches. Others prefer to withhold this information until later. Whatever you choose, give it some thought beforehand.

• Be intentional about your time. Between setting up a profile, scrolling through matches, and chatting with people, dating apps can take up a lot of your time. Think ahead about how much time you’re willing to dedicate to a dating app, and set time perimeters for yourself to keep it manageable.

• Go easy on yourself. Dating takes practice, and most people don’t find their ideal partner on the first date. Don’t be hard on yourself if things don’t work out with a certain person.

• Set boundaries and guard your privacy. Even if you really like a person you meet, remember to take things slow and maintain your boundaries until you're comfortable sharing more.

Dating Sites That Are Built for People With Disabilities

Dateability

Dateability is an app open to people with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities and chronic illnesses, as well as allies. The app is available for iOS and Android, as well as through its website. You can filter profiles by age, gender, and other interests, but Dateability intentionally keeps filters minimal. That way, you stay in control of who you’re interested in, rather than an algorithm deciding whose profile you see. You can choose to include information about your disability in your profile in the Dateability Deets section, or keep that info private if you want.

Jaqueline Child co-founded Dateability with her sister after Jaqueline experienced ableist behavior when she was dating with a disability. The sisters started the app to create a space where people with disabilities and chronic illness could meet others who understand their lived experience.

Staying Safe when Using Dateability

You can easily report any inappropriate behavior by email to support@dateabilityapp.com. This includes:

• Discriminatory or inappropriate language

• Unwanted messages

• Harassment

• Requests for personal financial information

Dateability also offers an optional verification process where users can submit photos to be verified by a human. When someone has taken this extra security step, you’ll see a yellow check mark on their profile.

Special Bridge

Special Bridge markets itself as a “social community for adults with mental and physical disabilities”. While we find its name to be a bit cringey, it might be worth checking out.

It’s currently available online through your desktop or mobile browser, with an app coming soon.

Special Bridge advertises that only real people have profiles, with no bots or fakes on the site. With many scammers out there, knowing you’re talking to a real person can make it easier to find a connection. And Special Bridge isn’t just for romance. It can be a great place to find new friends, too. You can filter for location, similar disabilities, and shared interests.

Safety and support from Special Bridge

Special Bridge also makes safety top priority, with in-app voice and video chat available in addition to in-app messaging. That means that you don’t have to give out your personal contact information in order to get to know someone.

You can also reach out to support@specialbridge.com with questions or concerns you have while using the site.

Hiki

Hiki is a friendship and dating app for autistic, ADHD, and all neurodivergent communities. According to its website, Hiki is an app for anyone who identifies as neurodivergent, whether you have been professionally diagnosed, you self-identify as neurodivergent, or you’re exploring that identity.

When viewing profiles, it’s easy to express interest with a heart (showing romantic interest), a smile (showing you’re interested in friendship), or an X (not interested). The app also includes a Facebook- or Reddit-style forum for open discussion and threads connecting with people around shared interests. There are free and premium paid memberships available, and the app is available for both iOS and Android.

Safety support with Hiki

Hiki uses ID verification to keep out scammers, minors, and fake users. Admins look for suspicious users and problematic behavior, and anyone can report others within the app if needed. Once a report is made, administrators will review the report and quickly issue a temporary or permanent ban if the flagged user has violated the terms of service or their membership agreement.

Other Dating Apps to Try

While other popular dating apps don’t specifically serve people with disabilities, they might be worth exploring depending on what you’re looking for. Here are the most commonly used dating apps available:

• Bumble

• Tinder

• PlentyofFish

• Badoo

• Grindr

• OkCupid

• Coffee Meets Bagel

• Hinge

Safety Tips for Online Dating

No matter what app you try, it’s a good idea to keep safety in mind when meeting people online. These tips can help keep you safe when you’re getting to know people virtually.

• Meet in public for your first meeting. You may want to bring along a trusted friend or family member, or at least share your plans and location with someone you trust.

• Be alert to scams or requests for personal information like bank account info, your address, or your social security number.

• Never send money to a person you’re talking to online.

• Be aware of devotees, or people who fetishize disability. Some apps, like Dateability, don’t allow devotees on their platforms, but others might. Make sure you feel safe and are getting what you want out of a relationship.

You can also check out this video from Special Bridge with six safety tips for people with disabilities using online dating sites.