Between Stigma and Swipe: An Examination of Dating Apps for Disabled Users Through the Lens of the Access–Choice–Pleasure Model

Over the past decade, dating apps have become an increasingly pop-
ular way of seeking intimacy, yet they frequently exclude disabled
individuals. In this work, we focus on dating apps as a significant
and expanding platform for pursuing intimacy for disabled people.
Through a fully anonymous qualitative online survey that covers
diverse aspects of online dating, we examine the motivations and
experiences of 44 disabled people who have previously used and/or
are currently using any dating app. Through our findings, we reveal
both the social barriers and stigma surrounding dating experiences
of disabled people, and how app design reproduces these, collec-
tively shaping users’ experiences. In our discussion, we situate our
findings within Pikkel’s recent Access–Choice–Pleasure Model [43]
from Disability Studies, showing how disabled users’ experiences
with dating apps can be understood through this lens. We then pro-
vide design examples that illustrate how dating apps could foster
accessible, autonomous and pleasurable experiences for disabled
users, thereby informing researchers and designers in this space.