Dating, Relationships, and Disability

Dating, Relationships, and Disability

Hosted by: Kathy O'Connell

We offer strategies, encouragement, and mindset tips on dating with a disability. We talk about how to navigate sexual ableism, focus on your power to attract, and develop happy and healthy relationships.

Episodes

Episode 13 - Dating Sites and Apps

I have to begin with one of the “disadvantages” I have in my work. I’m married, happily married at that. It’s a wonderful facet of my life, but it does give me a distinct drawback when knowing what are the best dating...
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Episode 12 - Your Dating Profile

Many people think of a dating profile as being for potential dates to read and decide if they want to get to know you. While that is true, the dating profile gives you great clarity on your strengths and what you're...
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Episode 11 - Disclosing Your Disability

This week we’re talking about a widely debated topic - when to disclose your disability to a date. Some people suggest waiting a while for people to get to know you. Others, including myself, recommend doing it right...
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Episode 10 - How to Cultivate the Power to Attract

In my Dating, Relationships, and Disability framework I talk about the Power to Attract, which is when you begin focusing on how you are attractive (in all ways - physically, emotionally, personality, etc) and how...
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Bonus Episode - Being Single During The Holidays

If you’re listening to this around the time it’s published, it is the holiday season and if you’re single, you may be having a hard time with feeling lonely and longing to be with someone. You are not alone. I...
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9 - Moving From Dreaming To Dating

This week we’re talking about what I think is the most important piece of DRD framework for getting results, Taking Action. Yes, actually taking all that you desire for dating and relationships and doing something,...
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8 - "We All Want the Same Thing"

This week I have my first guest on the show, Pam Malin, from Disability Rights Wisconsin. Pam is an Advocacy Specialist and a Project Coordinator and has been working for decades to promote healthy relationships for...
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7 - Got Problem Solving Strategies?

This week we’re discussing the last part of the DRD framework, developing problem strategies for being in relationship. When a relationship happens, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. The ability to problem solve in...
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6 - I Met Someone, Now What?

Sometimes we can get so focused on the dating side of things, trying to attract someone, and trying to find the right person, we forget about the other 80% of work that comes from dating and relationships. That’s...
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5 - Increasing Dating Confidence

This week we’re talking about the second core principle, or table leg, to my DRD framework- dating confidence. I hear frequently, and I felt this way also when I was single,   “I’m pretty confident in general, but...
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4 - Believing in Yourself, The Hardest Work

Season #1 Episode #4

This week I begin to break down the four table legs, so to speak, on the DRD framework - believing in yourself.It’s certainly the hardest part of getting the whole dating and relationship piece to get nailed down.I...
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Potential As Dating and Relationship Partners

Season #1 Episode #3

One of my overarching career goals is that people with disabilities (PWD) are seen more potential dating and relationship partners. What does this mean? For the Dating Relationships Disability (DRD) work I do, there’s...
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