Disability: The Ultimate Turn-off?

Hello All! I know this is a rather loaded question but I need to ask it since I have been wondering about it for years. For starters: I am visually impaired, and will continue to lose my sight unless doctors, by some miracle find a cure, but to be honest my hopes are not to high on that happening in the near future. Anyway with that being said I am a relatively happy person just living life and hoping to find a certain special someone to complete my life someday (soon or way later, whatever fate decides). So there is no pity party here. But the question remains, Would you be willing to date someone like me, who is disabled or is this a major turn off? I know this is completely a matter of opinion but I would like to hear from a variety of people on there whys and why nots, so I stop making stupid assumptions about this in general. I have the general belief that this is a turn off. So give me your answer, boys and girls. I don't care. And for others who have disabilities (physical/mental) Is this a common fear for you as well and how have you coped with it? I hope I haven't offended anyone. I meant for this to be an innocent topic, but I know it can be heated. Thanks Everyone Colleen

I agree with cantthinkofabettername. something like this doesn't matter. i don't think that's a turn off. personal opinion, if you accept me for who I am I guess you'll be my certain special someone

lol love will always find a way besides plenty of people have disability theses days and some was born with it and others got it over the years like soilders they dont always come back fromm the war in full health or let alone whole piece they lose a leg or an arm here and there but they still try to give their new life a chance.soo im sure someone will give you a chance for me it not a turn off cause i actually like imperfect things :)find a guy thats see the perfect in you ^^

I'll be honest: for me it's not a turn-off, but it is a factor to consider. It would be one thing if I was already in love with someone, already had an established long-term relationship, and their eyesight started going. It'd be hard, but of course I'd support them--and if our relationship was strong, I'd like to think it would endure. But meeting someone brand new? Someone who lacked or was certain to lose either their sight or their hearing wouldn't be able to share half of my world with me, half of the things I love to do and want to share with a significant other. That's not a judgment on them. It's just a recognition that I don't want to become deeply emotionally invested in someone when I already know they won't be able to share those experiences with me. But not everyone will feel that way. Your guy's out there somewhere.

@Amezuki- No worries, I feel no judgement! ^^ But you do bring up the point I am most concerned about. It is one thing to have an established relationship with someone and then deal with the issues as they come. Amezuki what things would you fear not being able to share with someone, if you don't mind my asking. I ask, since, I don't often feel deprived of being able to do things with my loved ones, but I do have to say it happens from time to time. Also, experiencing something with someone is not limited to sight or hearing, but all the senses and I can usually be just as content with the other sense. As it stand now though, I still have working sight, so these opinions may change when my remaining sight disappears. However, another thing I am concerned about is how to bring this topic up when I may have a potential date, because where I am at visually speaking requires a cane and it would be pretty obvious when we met. I have worked and am continuing to work on becoming an independent and capable person, but I will always be somewhat dependent. Yay. More factors to consider. Thanks for getting back everyone. May the conversation continue. Colleen

I can only speak for myself, but to me a blind person (and here I'm speaking of someone truly blind, 100% vision loss or close enough to make no difference): - Wouldn't be able to watch subtitled anything with me. With anime and foreign films this is a real problem; I cannot stand most English dubs. - Wouldn't be able to give me feedback on or visually appreciate anything that I created--art, graphics, cosplay, pretty much anything that couldn't be properly appreciated by either touch or hearing. - Wouldn't be able to appreciate the visual beauty of anything I pointed out. It would be a constant struggle to suppress the urge to point to or to call out visual things like a mountain in the distance. - Wouldn't be able to take turns driving on road trips. To name but a few things that would leave me very unhappy in a relationship. This is going to be different for everyone, but for me too much of my world and what I create or enjoy is audio-visual. I think it's entirely reasonable to bring up that you have significant vision loss and use a cane before planning to meet someone. If it's a deal-breaker to someone, better to find out before taking the time and effort to meet than to have that awkwardness and surprise occur the first time you see each other.

Lol! Oh yes I do have to agree with you there on so many points! And believe me the driving thing is a pain in the ass! If I could I would and that I do feel bad about! With such limited local not to mention nation wide public transportation I'm pretty much stuck! And truly I understand the audio visual thing! I'm an artist at heart and have been creating things since childhood! I was an art major when I entered college until things went more south than I would have liked. Anyway, thanks for your honesty! But don't knock the language barrier! I'm working on becoming an interpreter and the next language on my list is Japanese! It is possible one could still enjoy the show with out seeing it. Omg and pointing out things! Oh yes can that be frustrating for both parties but at the same time it has its own sort of comedy! Thanks for the advice.

From a girls view, I wouldn't mind a blind boyfriend. There might be some difficulties but such is life. Now a more sever disability id have to consider depending on what it was.

Not turn off at all, so what they have a disability it only matters if you are taking advantage of the person, and that is a big no no. I guess for me since I work with person with various disabilities I don't see them any different then other people, they need to work harder or differently then most people. I would love a person the same way if they were in a wheelchair or they were perfectly fine.