Is Your Date Idea Accessible?

Unfortunately, so many spaces in the world are still very inaccessible to disabled people. Particular access needs are as unique as individuals are, and some folks can handle inaccessible spaces when necessary or for short periods of time if they have support, while others will not be able to do so. In this article well explore some broad classes of accessibility needs. These will give you some things to consider and some questions you can ask of the restaurant, axe throwing club, national park, or any other space you might want to take your next prospective date. Remember though, you always want to check with your date about what their access needs are before you assume or plan anything concrete!

Sensory Access Needs

Sensory access needs have to do with your senses. This can include things like:

• sound
• smell
• sight

It can include things like checking if the place youre going to will be very loud and if it will be hard for your date to hear you. It can also be making sure there arent going to be flickering lights or strobe effects at a club or theatre show. It could also be making sure the space youre going to is scent-free! Any or all of these can be sensory access needs. Finally, sensory access needs might look like staying in and watching something with captioning rather than going to the cinema, or making sure the cinema youre going to has descriptive audio and watch out for this! Sometimes places will say they have assistive technology available to help with sensory needs, but it may be an extra cost or not be the most functional. If your date has their own strategies for navigating their access needs like using a screen-reader or a service dog, try to make sure the space you take them will be able to accommodate their existing strategies.

Some questions to ask can include:

• Do you offer descriptive video or captioning?
• What are the noise levels at your establishment like?
• Is your space scent-free?

Neurodivergent and Mental Health Access Needs 

Neurodivergent and mental health access needs are related to conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, or autism. These needs, just like all other needs, are not necessarily connected to the diagnosis your date has, as two people with the same diagnosis might have different needs. Sometimes these needs can look like sensory or intermittent needs. Individuals with neuroatypical access needs might require more quiet environments, clearer or multimodal communication (so captioning can be a benefit), or have the option to postpone an activity or exit from social situations. In-building these access needs or escape hatches to activities can be really helpful.

Some questions to ask can include:

• Will there be a quiet space?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• Do you offer closed-captioning?

Mobility Access Needs

Mobility access needs are about the ability to move around different spaces and doing different activities. People with mobility access needs may need to rest frequently, not be able to engage in all kinds of physical activities or access all kinds of physical spaces, or might use assistive technologies like wheelchairs or rollators to get around. They might be ambulatory sometimes and not at others. Some things to think about with mobility impairments include what kind of terrain there is in the space youre taking your date to, this includes outdoor terrains, but also whether or not there are stairs and how steep they are, whether there are ramps, or if the washroom at the space is big enough to accommodate a wheelchair. If youre doing some kind of activity, see if there are spaces or time to sit down and rest, and what kind of activities and activity level is required. 

Some questions to ask include:

• Is your washroom accessible?
• How much standing will be involved?
• Where are your wheelchair spaces located?

Intermittent Access Needs

Intermittent access needs include things like temporary injuries, allergies, or chronic condition flare-ups. These access needs might not always be there, but sometimes they will be. For these access needs, youll usually need to consult right off the bat with your date. If they have a cast on, its probably not the best time to go to a waterpark, or if they have seasonal allergies dont take them to the park in pollen season or for a hayride at Halloween. If theyre feeling tired, maybe take a raincheck or if you know that your date might have a flare up at any time, try to be understanding and dont plan dates that require things to be booked further in advance.

Some questions to ask include:

• What dates is this activity  available?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• Are you able to accommodate allergies?

Once again, these are just a few examples to get you started on thinking about what kinds of dates might be accessible to those with different access needs. Even if you or your date dont identify as disabled, you might have access needs to and it can be helpful to have a framework to think about what they might be! Dating means you have to consider another person besides yourself and a great way to show that care is to be considerate in your planning and the kinds of dates you offer up as suggestions.

Here at Mate Machine, we are committed to helping you find your perfect mate.

MateMachine is a Vancouver-based Technology start-up that has invented a unique secret crush search engine that can be used for connecting with the ones that we already know and have hidden feelings for. This happens through a unique and innovative search engine and is usable by anyone.

This work was supported by Mitacs through the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship.