Dating apps are an important facet of the lives that generations today lead. While some try to look for their one true love on these apps, others are only there for a casual or short-term relationship. However, one community that finds it very difficult to even find a friend with whom they can share their feelings, is the specially-abled. Even if they want to be in a relationship, they are often faced with challenges preventing them from finding what they are looking for.
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The good news is that a new dating app, Inclov, is helping people with disabilities find their perfect partner. In fact, for the first time in Hyderabad, this Sunday, Inclov organised a special matchmaking meet for people with various disabilities, including polio and visual and hearing impairment. Despite heavy rains in the city, around 50 people turned up at the event. Many of the participants reached the venue with either a friend or family member. Divya Balder, sister of one of the participants, Payal Kapoor, feels that although they are called specially-abled, most of these people are gifted in one way or the other. The event started with an introduction round, after which the participants were asked to move around and network. The place was buzzing with energy as everyone attempted to find people matching their interests. People were seeing laughed, exchanging numbers and making plans to meet soon.
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Shankar Srinivasan, organiser of the event and co-founder of Inclov, explains that they created the app after finding (in a research) that many specially-abled people do not find a partner, due to the stigma against them in society. “We wanted to do something in the matchmaking field and found that there is much need of such an app for the specially-abled. So we started this offline in 2014. The response was really nice, after which we decided to make an app for easy access. The app is available on both Android and IoS,” he says. Interestingly, as many as 20,000 people have registered on the app, of which 7,000 have been able to meet their partners.
One of the attendees at the event, Vasundhara Koppula, who has been on the wheelchair due to polio since two years of age, feels the whole experience was amazing. “People think that disabled people don’t need love in their lives. But that isn’t true. I enjoyed my time here and look forward to other such meets.” Adithya N.C., 26, who was restricted to a wheelchair after an unfortunate accident, feels it is important that society accepts them as normal people. “I enjoy meeting new people. This app does help a lot. Even if we are not able to meet our soulmates, we meet so many new people and make new friends.”
