About this episode

Kathy O'Connell discusses six key actions to take when actively dating, focusing on skills for engagement and social participation.

Stage 4 (Active Dating) of her "5 Stages to Dating Success" framework. It's a tactical, mini-workshop style episode pulling content from her curriculum aimed at professionals in the disability field. 6 Key Skills for Active Dating Platform Engagement & Match Interaction — actively using apps or attending in-person events, following up with interested people Active Social Participation — attending events to build social skills and networks, not just to find a partner Leveraging Friend & Family Networks — asking 3 people in your life if they know potential matches; planting the seed pays off over time Reflection & Documentation — tracking what's working and what isn't, treating each experience as data Celebrating Progress & Self-Compassion — recognizing small wins; being kind to yourself when things go wrong Maintaining Authenticity — showing up as yourself, disclosing disability comfortably, requesting accommodations without apology Milestones to Watch For Consistent presence on dating apps (at least 6 months before switching) Feeling authentically represented in profiles and conversations Navigating accessibility needs confidently and clearly Recovering…

People in this episode

Host: Kathy O'Connell

Topics covered

• active dating
• disability
• social skills
• dating apps
• self-compassion
• networking

Keywords

• dating success
• active dating
• social participation
• friend networks
• self-reflection
• authenticity
• dating apps
• rejection recovery

More episodes of Dating, Relationships, and Disability

• 252 - Pride, Not Pity: Dating with Disability Pride · July 21, 2026 · 30 min
• 251 - "Permission to Feel Pleasure": Sexuality, Disability & Desire · July 14, 2026 · 38 min
• 250 Milestone - Confidence, Connection, and Confronting Sexual Ableism · July 7, 2026 · 40 min
• 249 - Friendship Series: Everybody Has a Thing · June 30, 2026 · 47 min
• 247 - I Need Your Help · June 16, 2026 · 13 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Dating, Relationships, and Disability podcast page.