| With so many disabled people searching the internet to | | | | Specialised sites have a wider base of users who |
| find love and friendship, several mainstream dating | | | | understand what it is like to live with a disability. They |
| sites have also begun including a dating for the | | | | take into consideration the challenges their subscribers |
| disabled service on their sites. This service attracts | | | | face in order to use the internet and many sites are |
| users with disabilities who are looking for an able | | | | designed to make it easier for disabled users to |
| bodied companion, who understands their situation. | | | | access them. Allowing changes to text size to suit |
| Equally, it helps non-disabled users who are already | | | | members with visual impairments and dyslexia and |
| registered on the site to widen their search for a | | | | having spoken text labels attached to pictures are |
| compatible partner by including those who may happen | | | | some of the measures employed. Accommodating |
| to be living with an impairment. | | | | technology in this way underlines the sensitivity of the |
| By giving users an option to experience dating a | | | | specialised dating sites. |
| disabled person, the service itself also benefits. If this | | | | Today many mainstream dating sites offer dating |
| option is utilised by enough members the service | | | | facilities for disabled people. But experts continue to |
| attracts advertisers from the disability market and is | | | | view the services with suspicion. They feel that these |
| able to capitalise on profits. The site could also benefit | | | | sites may have a hidden agenda (like profit, for |
| through an improved position on search engine | | | | example) and so may not be completely devoted to |
| rankings. | | | | finding dating solutions for the disabled. They advise |
| Some internet users with disabilities who use the | | | | disabled singles to choose specialist dating websites |
| mainstream sites however are not happy with the | | | | rather than opt for general mainstream dating |
| dating disabled service. They feel it is actually more | | | | websites. The reasoning being that with the plethora of |
| difficult to meet compatible partners in this way. The | | | | dating sites on offer, why not choose one that |
| onus for revealing the disability often lies with the user | | | | focuses exclusively on your special needs. This is |
| and is not mentioned in the profile posted on the site. | | | | especially so when one is not searching for that |
| As a result when the details of the disability come to | | | | special someone and is simply looking to be a part of |
| light the other person is quite likely to back away. This | | | | an active online community that understands disability. |
| is not so on a specialised dating for the disabled | | | | However, in spite of these suspicions, there are some |
| service. Here the impairment is mentioned in the profile | | | | well established mainstream dating sites which are |
| and the subscriber does not have to worry about how | | | | sensitive to issues facing the disabled and are |
| the information will be received as the contact is | | | | providing quality service. As dating sites for the |
| aware of it beforehand. | | | | disabled is a much needed service, the more the |
| Dating through disabled dating sites are also preferred | | | | merrier! |
| because of the quality of the service provided. | | | | |