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Dating Paraplegics the Ultimate Guide

Dating paraplegics and wheelchair usersThere are many reasons for and against dating paraplegics and wheelchair users. We answer the common and complex questions people have in “Dating Paraplegics the Ultimate Guide”. Some answers may surprise, we cover all you need to know dating wheelchair users in short easy to understand terms.

“Dating Paraplegics the Ultimate Guide” is a great read for anyone dating. Begin to date a wheelchair user the right way. Discover the secrets to dating paraplegics and wheelchair users.

Dating Paraplegics and Wheelchair Users

  1. Pushy: I want to ask a wheelchair user out but I’m afraid I will scare them off.
    True: You may scare them off, so don’t hang around waiting for a relationship that will never happen. Go ahead and ask them out. They may feel the same way about you. Be creative, “If you behave, I will let you take me out to dinner Friday night.” Most who feel the same way will be flattered. At least you will then know where you stand.
  2. Personal Care Nurse: I don’t want to be a care nurse. That is to much work for me. I don’t want to help with personal care, help toilet shower and dress etc. It is a huge burden and turn-off.
    True: It is a huge responsibility yes. It is alright to feel that way. But you do not have to be their care nurse. They got along fine before they met you. And they will be fine if you leave. Paraplegics are quite able to take care of their own personal hygiene. The very few paraplegics who do need some help with personal care will have, or should get, support services in place.
  3. No Sex: Dating a paraplegic wheelchair user means no sex. They can’t feel it so they don’t enjoy sex or make love very often.
    False: Sex is not usually one of the things we talk about on a first date. Most men and women dating paraplegics do report a healthy active sex life. Those in long term relationships with paraplegics describe them as above average lovers. Some may, but don’t expect all of us to talk about sex on the first date.
  4. Bad Sex: Paraplegics are bad in bed. They just lay there all paralyzed and lifeless during sex.
    False: Paraplegics have great upper body strength. Most can be on top if they want to. Paraplegics are physically active and hands on during the act of love making. If things are boring introduce scented candles, oils, music etc. Appeal to the other senses. Wheelchair users are very visual when it comes to foreplay and sex.
  5. Erections: All wheelchair users have trouble getting and keeping an erection.
    False: What you need to know is if their Spinal Cord Injury is “complete” or “incomplete.” Most with SCI are incomplete. They can get an erection by touching or rubbing their penis, or in the case of girls, wet by rubbing their clitoris. Generally it is only men with a complete spinal cord injury who find it hard to get and keep an erection.
  6. No Children: People in wheelchairs can’t have children. They should not have children. Dating a paraplegic you will not be able to start a family. They can’t look after or raise children very well.
    False: Paraplegic women have the same chance of conceiving a child as any other fertile woman. Pregnancy and childbirth are carried out in much the same way as able-bodied women. Paraplegic women make excellent mothers. Paraplegic men have a slightly lower fertility rate than other men do. Paraplegic men make excellent fathers.
  7. Bad Genes: People with a spinal cord injury have a high risk of giving birth to disabled babies.
    False: A spinal cord injury is not genetic. It cannot be passed on to children.
  8. Short Life Span: Wheelchair users don’t live as long as regular people.
    True: Doctors say a spinal cord injury can shorten an otherwise 80 year life span by a year or two. However, by far the biggest factor influencing life span is lifestyle.
  9. Scarred For Life: Wheelchair users have nasty scars weird legs and a fucked up body.
    True: Most paraplegics do have some scars. In fact most people over 25 have some scars. Injuries involving broken bones require surgery. Unless obvious only trusted people get to see a paraplegics scars. Behind every scar is a story. Paraplegics often have thin limp legs (flaccid legs). Most have a well defined strong upper body to compensate.
  10. Angry: I have been dating paraplegics for some time, they are angry hurtful and mean. I figure it will get better in time.
    False: If you are dating a spinal cord injury wheelchair user who is mean and angry, 90% of the time you will come to find they were mean and angry before the wheelchair. Everybody has their bad days but that is no excuse. You should never tolerate abuse. Do not make threats to leave. Pack up and leave. At the very least, move away from anyone who is angry and abusive to you.
  11. Easy Target: Wheelchair users are easy to rape use and abuse for sex.
    False: Wheelchair users have open access to protective services and often carry a vital call alarm. The rape and abuse of disabled people is a very serious crime. Paraplegics can fight back. They have more upper body strength than regular people and know how to use it.
  12. Easy to Disable: I feel safe dating paraplegics because I can easy tip them out of their wheelchair if they annoy me.
    False: You can tip them out but they can get back in quickly and heaven help you when they do. When others learn of what you have done you will not be safe. Never tip any wheelchair user out of their chair unless they ask you to.
  13. Baggage: When dating paraplegics you have to put their wheelchair in the car. Lift them in and out of the car. Carry a butt-load of medical supplies. It’s just a big drama to go out.
    False: Paraplegics can transfer from their wheelchair into a car without help. Some use a sliding board (short smooth board to slide on) to make it safe and easy. They can pull their wheelchair apart and stow it in the back seat of the car. It is polite to offer assistance. Don’t feel bad if it is refused. Many paraplegics will already drive their own car with hand controls.
  14. Catheters: I want to know what the deal is with catheters but I do not want to seem rude and ask my date how they pee and stuff. Should I just go ahead and ask?
    True: Yes go ahead and ask. Most dating paraplegics and wheelchair users don’t find such questions rude. They are happy to talk about and explain how they go to the bathroom. After all, if things go well, you will both get more intimate than that at some point. It is good to know how your wheelchair partner functions before that happens.
  15. Repulsed: I cannot get over the catheter thing. It really turns me off sex.
    True: It is fair to say that kind of thing is not pretty. No paraplegic likes having to poke a tube up their private to drain their bladder, but they don’t get much choice. Ask them how they got over it. Give it some time and you might get more used to the idea. If the catheter is in during sex, ask them about taking it out for sex. Most paraplegics can go without a catheter for several hours.
  16. Parking Permit: I am only dating paraplegics for the parking.
    False: You are only easy to please or just butt lazy. Disability parking permits only apply to people who medically qualify for them. Sticker or no sticker, if they are not in the car, you may not park there. Everyone knows the best thing about dating paraplegics is the oral sex!
  17. Restricted Access: You miss out on things dating paraplegics. It’s like dragging an anchor around. You can only go places that have wheelchair access. That means boring and not spontaneous.
    False: Many people dating paraplegics enjoy all kinds of physical activities. They can fly, hike, swim, etc. and play most any sport. Night clubs, rock concerts and cinemas are just a few places where wheelchair users are given priority seating and access.
  18. Opening Doors: Should I open the door?
    False: Ask them, “May I get the door for you?” If you do open it, don’t stand in the way or stretch your arm out for them to go under. In general when dating paraplegics it’s polite for a man to open the door for a woman.
  19. Travel: There are limited places to go dating paraplegics and it costs extra to travel.
    False: Paraplegics often qualify for discounted fares. Some airlines allow a companion to fly free with any full fare paying wheelchair user. No country in the world bans wheelchair users or dating paraplegics. It may just take a little more planning.
  20. Beaches: Don’t go to the beach when dating paraplegics. They get stuck in soft sand.
    True: A standard manual push chair will get stuck in soft sand. You can drag them through backwards but that will exhaust you quickly. Wheelchair users love the beach and warm sunny places. Just stick to beaches with a boardwalk or pier until you get to know what they are capable of. They might prefer a quad bike or 4 wheel drive.
  21. Never Say Walk: It’s rude to say let’s go for a walk when dating paraplegics.
    False: They don’t care. They know what you mean.
  22. Second Person: If someone asks me, what my date wants, should I answer for them?
    False: Politely tell them to ask your date instead.
  23. Income: I do not want to work all day while they sit at home and do nothing.
    True: Paraplegics do sit all day. Many work part-time to supplement a disability pension or hold down a full-time job. Some are career professionals. They may not like you sitting around doing nothing all day either.
  24. House Maid: Dating paraplegics is good because they like to pick up after you.
    False: You won’t be dating paraplegics for long if you are messy. Wheelchair users do not like clothes left on the floor. They get tangled in their castor wheels, and may cause them to fall from their chair. They do not like to pick up after you. That includes your friends, if they make a mess, they better clean it up.
  25. Home Access: Back at their home they told me, “Don’t touch my stuff.” But I am not a klutz.
    True: It is something dating paraplegics have to say a lot. Not because you are a klutz. If they go for the phone in an emergency, only to find you have moved it beyond their reach, you may cause them harm. Their stuff may look out of place to you, and most won’t mind you touching, but always put things back the way you found them.
  26. Yard Work: Can they mow the lawn and keep the yard tidy?
    True: Gardening is a very popular hobby amongst wheelchair users. Paraplegics can drive ride on mowers, tractors, harvesters, handle a saw etc. Most with a house in the suburbs pay someone to mow their lawn, and clean the gutters out. The rest they can take care of. Pot plants, home gardens, and raised garden beds are easy to look after.
  27. Drug Addicts: Paraplegics are a good source of drugs.
    False: Paraplegics require little to no medication. They avoid taking prescribed drugs as much as possible.
  28. Retarded: All wheelchair users are retarded in some way. A spinal cord injury causes brain damage. Paraplegics have all kinds of emotional issues and mental problems.
    False: A spinal cord injury is certainly a traumatic event. It does not cause brain damage. For the most part, rehab after a spinal cord injury gives paraplegics a new lease on life. Paraplegics who are open to dating are more than often well adjusted, and emotionally well balanced.
  29. Plenty Of Fish: There are so many non-disabled why bother dating the disabled?
    True: There are more able-bodied. Dating paraplegics is just as risky and rewarding as dating able-bodied people. No one group or type of person should be excluded. But we all have our own likes and dislikes. We are all free to chose who we date.
  30. Approval: Pressure from family and friends. He is only dating paraplegic girls because he can’t get a real woman. My friends and family don’t approve.
    False: This is a very narrow minded and ignorant statement for anyone to make. There are many positives to dating paraplegics. More than often in public these days those dating paraplegics get noticed and praised. Paraplegics are smart people. They will be quick to tell anyone with such bias opinions to grow up or go away.
  31. Rejection: I would like to date a paraplegic but I know nothing about disability and wheelchair life. I am afraid I will be rejected.
    True: Your advances may be declined, not because you know nothing about disability. When it comes to love, the feeling is not always mutual. C’est la vie (such is life). If a disabled person rejects you it does not mean you are un-lovable. They simply aren’t ready to date or don’t feel a strong enough love attraction toward you.
  32. Bunny Boiler: Wheelchair users are very needy. If I am dating paraplegics and it doesn’t work out, when I leave they will have plenty of time on their hands to stalk me.
    False: With that attitude they will be glad to see you leave. Paraplegics are no more or less needy than anyone else. They got over breaking their spine, I’m sure they will get over you.

Resources

218 thoughts on “Dating Paraplegics the Ultimate Guide”

  1. Ally sometimes when life hurts we don’t know anything but to take it out on the people who are around,
    What you have done is the best to reach out to him sometimes the pain closes us up and slowly but surely we see a light at the end of the tunnel.
    Maybe your his light, even just as friends.
    We need more people like you in life and as long as your not feeling sad or down I say keep trying knowing maybe ur helping sum1.
    Maybe he has never felt the interest of a woman and does not know how to be. Maybe I’m wrong, just know I went through the same at first.
    Just what ever you do don’t take it personally.

  2. Sara, I absolutely understand the emotional toll it takes on a person. That’s why I reached out to him again and laid it out there. If he contacts me again (which I really hope he does) I will be a friend or more depending on what he wants at the time. But if he is not ready yet or not interested, then that’s fine too. I am not taking it personally, I just hope that he finds his happiness eventually.

    And I hope that you have found your light at the end of the tunnel as well. You mentioned you went through something similar. Thanks again for trying to shine some light on my situation :)

  3. No worries hun, hope what ever happens it all works out for the best, could I ask where are you from. It’s just curiosity.

  5. Being paraplegic is a lonely place to be. Guys often hit on me and even want to date but when they find out I can’t. move your legs and do what they want they usually run away.Get lost and loose interest

  7. Very informative. Thank you for publishing this insightful information. All the best ?????????

  8. I read this article in hopes of understanding my significant other’s daily challenges and hopefully getting some insight into the mental challenges someone in a wheelchair may face. Reading through this list of questions just made me very sad for the human race. I cannot believe that people actually have any of these concerns. Worried about what your family will think? Using them for a parking permit or discounts? People do realize this is a human being with feelings, right? I can’t stop crying.

  9. Keep reading Loulou. The site is quite informative and we always welcome questions. Many here are willing to answer. Welcome, if I haven’t said it before.

  10. Thank you! I had a hard time reading through this list. Some of the things that people in a wheelchair may have been asked or had someone think about them seem so harsh and cruel. But I read several of the comments and am happy to see all the stories about loving relationships.

  11. Hi everyone, my name is Trevor and have always been an independent hard working young man until recently. I was at work early one morning on my birthday finishing up so I could go out that evening and have a good time. On December 27, 2015 I fell from 8 feet in the air off of an extension ladder working at the shopping center that I maintain. Now I suffer from spinal cord damage, and can’t move my legs much. I was shocked because I never thought something like this would happen to me, I’ve been on my own since the age of 17. I lost my mom when I was this age, and she was only 36 years old. I have no family, and I don’t have any kids. I have been working hard to stay in good spirits, but its hard because this is all very new to me. I feel like I’ll never be me again. I just turned 24 by the way, so I feel like nothing will ever be the same. I worry about what people will think of me in public, I worry about having a love life again, I worry about having kids, etc… I had just paid off my house and car with a decent amount of money in the bank. I was just getting myself straight so I could find me a beautiful woman to start a family with. I’m hurt.. I came across this site, and find it very interesting. Thanks for letting me share my story.

  12. I like your site it helps to have to explain why I do what I can. Im relatively new and im still waiting for my insurance to fund my custom chair.
    Pray that I get it very soon,its coming from Quiky

  13. I am a few months into a wonderful new relationship with a wheel user, as they call them. I can’t quite put into word how wonderful he is. What’s more is that he lives on the other side of the world. You could say our communication is pretty good lol. Getting to know him through a mental more than physical connection has been the most natural and special experience. Whether its over the phone or I’m sitting right next to him, there is nothing different about the way we fall in love, just like every other person. and yes there’s extra admin. and things take a little longer than they usually would but it adds spice to our day and my eyes have opened up in the process. its not difficult, its just different.

  15. Interesting read. I saw a man, paraplegic, on and off for about a year. He is very handsome, athletic, interesting.. it didn’t work out for many reasons and not his injury. looking back on him I don’t even think of his injury. We had terrific sex and great conversation. I think we wanted very different things in life so we moved on. I’m a family woman, he wanted to mess around and have a good time with his buddies rarely wanted to travel or spend real time with me but he did use me for sex when convenient for him. This could be said about most dating relationships. I was sort of taken aback at first that he was so cavalier but then I realize this is just men – I don’t date really, I tend to be in long term relationships and I was interested in him for long term. He was one of my few purely “dating” experiences, and he turned out to be exactly like the men my girlfriends complain about they meet on dating sites like tinder which I don’t use. That being said- dating a man in a wheel chair can be like dating any man I guess so sans wheel chair or with wheel chair success in dating and relationships depends on place in life and expectations and commitment. There is one thing that I couldn’t handle tho- he was chronically late- I mean like an hour or more – for everything. so heads on up that for those of u dating people with these injuries- planning and time a whole new ball game. Going further, and this goes beyond anything he wanted or suggested, would I marry a man in wheel chair? I would if we had the same values, goals, places in life and Expectations of course I would. Having had the experience of sex with a man in a wheel chair I am now not nervous or even hesitant about if I were attracted to man in that situation in the future I would totally go for it and so same for any man, if into him yes if not no, I no longer differentiate.

  16. Am locking for a men in a wheelchair to accept to be my boyfriend

  17. Well I don’t fully agree with your list I can name several things you have wrong in there bc not every Paraplegic man and woman has those issues at all , Can say for myself I have a T12 l2 spinal cord injury and I don’t agree with many things bc Feel like they are based off of your views when you can easily get other peoples opinions on what you could put on your website because everybody has a different story on what they go through, How they live life . How about you ask others that live in wheelchairs just like me what my story is give me a bunch of questions and I will answer them honestly and straight to the point, Wheelchair guide is not the way you want to live first of all because everybody’s gonna have a different injury everybody’s going to have a different way they live . You’re answering questions but yet you , Don’t seem to ask others? You can reach me at [removed]

  18. I feel this is one of the best Q&A sites about paraplegics I have seen..
    Well edited to short, distinct Q&A,
    There is, however a higher risk though to make the topic easier than it might be.
    For example the fact there are no groups we could ever say “They are, they do …”
    A group is based on individuals with a great variety of standards.
    Maybe would it be good sometimes to remind of this fact for the reader?

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