Dating And Special Needs – When is it the Right Time?
Dating is often a hot subject. With the rise of social media and mobile apps, there are infinite opportunities to meet your romantic match. However, when it comes to teens and adults with special needs, there may be fewer opportunities to make a love connection. First, it is important for those with special needs to understand what they are feeling, and the type of companionship that is best suited for their own emotional health. Most schools offer some type of curriculum for teaching sexual health. It’s normal for young people to be curious and have feelings about sex that they don’t understand. From a moral and health standpoint, it is crucial that they are able to comprehend what is going on with their bodies and their emotions. Adolescents with disabilities may be at particular risk of not receiving sexual health education that is tailored to their needs; for example, there are assumptions that they experience an asexual identity (Murphy & Elias, 2006).
Learning about Sexual Health at an Early Age
According to some experts, adolescents with disabilities such as cognitive, physical, and emotional, engage in dating and sexual activity at similar or higher rates as other adolescents. Sounds surprising? Well, prevalence studies specific to the dating and sexual activity of adolescents with special needs disabilities are rare; but there is research that suggests that special needs individuals are at higher risk than other adolescents. These studies found that adolescents with special needs are more vulnerable to experience forced sex, often because of the high occurrence of low self-esteem and struggle with effective communication skills.
Preparing Special Needs Teens and Adults for Dating
From a religious view, some parents may feel more comfortable talking with the special needs child about dating and the consequences of sex before marriage. And there are different opinions on whether talking to the child about it, is an invitation to explore. Proper education is crucial for real-world scenarios. Qualitative studies show that families often have a strong influence on the dating and sexual health decisions of adolescents with disabilities. But dating is not necessarily about sex. Yes, it’s something that is often shared when two adults care for one another, but it is important for special needs teens and adults to learn how to interact with other individuals who they may have a romantic interest in. It is also important for them to understand that is may not always be about a romantic connection. Having a network of friends in which they can experience a healthy social life, is essential to becoming accustomed to the dating world.
Dating Sites for Special Needs
As far back as 1999, an organization named Make a Connection created a site where special needs adults can interact with others to develop friendships and dating. Today, sites like this give them opportunities to interact with others with similar needs. They can be in a more comfortable environment in which they can enjoy doing things they love, whether it’s bike riding, swimming, and other sports, eating, crafting, and more. But while the dating sites and mobile apps might be the most popular for a lot of people who are not a part of the special needs community, individuals with special needs may want to first focus on local environments such as faith-based organizations where they may feel more comfortable. Safety is the most important element when it comes to exploring the dating world.