Planning Your First Date on a Disabled Dating Site

One of the most important steps of online dating is arranging that first in-person meeting. This is your chance to meet the person you have been chatting with for weeks or months, and the idea of this first date may be both exciting and scary. When you are ready to take your relationship beyond communicating only through disabled dating sites, prepare yourself for this big step by following these helpful hints.

Deciding If You Are Ready to Meet

Planning a first date is something you shouldn’t rush into. Both you and your new friend should wait until you are both ready to take this next step. It is important to talk about the first meeting together. Explain how you feel, and ask how your new partner feels as well. If you feel you aren’t ready, you can explain this by saying how much you value your relationship in its current state, and telling your friend that you don’t want to move too fast. Most of the time, you will know you are ready to meet if you get excited at the thought of going out on that first date, so don’t worry if you don’t feel that way yet. Eventually, if the relationship makes you happy, you will probably want to go out on a first date.

Planning the First Meeting

Everyone gets nervous on a first date. This is a completely normal reaction, but for disabled singles, those nervous feelings can be compounded by a number of other factors. When you plan your first date, you and your romantic interest should discuss what types of social situations might cause anxiety or mental distress. When it comes to people with autism dating, a meeting at an arcade or amusement park might cause sensory overload. If either of you are physically disabled, you may want to consider the layout of the restaurant or café that you plan to visit in order to make sure it can accommodate your unique needs. You want your first date to be perfect, so it is important to plan the setting for the date ahead of time. You can arrange all of the details through the messaging functions available on disabled dating sites.

Safety

Disabled dating sites are designed to help you find people with similar disabilities and life experiences. This makes it easier for you to let your guard down and be yourself, but remember that there are still some safety precautions you should take. You don’t truly know the person that you are chatting with online until you get to know him or her in real life. Before you head out on your first date, remember the following:

• Don’t give out your home address before meeting your new companion.
• Plan your first few dates in a public area that you are familiar with.
• Let a friend or family member know where you will be.

Another important thing to remember is that it is OK to leave the date early if you feel scared or uncomfortable.  You don’t have to stay in a situation that is overwhelming or frightening, so consider preparing an emergency exit plan in advance. This way, you won’t feel obligated to stay in an uncomfortable situation.

Etiquette

The rules of dating are always changing, but the basic principles of having good manners still apply. Remember to say hello and goodbye, please and thank you, and try to smile if you are comfortable doing so. It’s always nice to pay your date a compliment or two throughout the course of the evening as well. Even if the date doesn’t go as planned, you should still follow up with a phone call or message to thank your companion for the evening.

You Don’t Have to Meet at All

For many disabled singles, planning an in-person meeting is just too overwhelming. You may find that communicating through disabled dating sites online is what you are most comfortable with, and that is perfectly alright. No one should force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable—just be sure that you explain your intentions to the person you are chatting with online. This will prevent anyone from having hurt feelings.

Disabled dating sites connect you with people who share your life experiences and understand what it means to be disabled. Once you have met someone online who makes you happy and ready for a relationship, the next step is getting ready for that first date. Remember to plan an evening that makes you both feel comfortable and safe—then have a great time.