Episode 19 From Online Dating to Engaged

I have such a treat for you today. If you’re listening to this episode close to when this episode is published, Happy Valentine’s Day! I know that Valentine’s Day can be a challenge for some of you who are out there dating so I wanted to offer you some inspiration today in the form of a happy, grounded couple.

I’m interviewing Jessica Kramer and Seth Dikeman. Jessica is an Access Specialist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Seth is a musician and a music instructor.

I met Jessica, who was a disability studies graduate student at the time, about five years ago at a World CP Day event. We clicked and began occasionally meeting for coffee and Jessica, who also has cerebral palsy, wrote some blogs for my website which are linked up in the show notes.

As a thank you for her blogs, I gave her access to my online course, Dating, Relationships, and Disability: How to Have Confidence and Succeed. A couple months later I received an email from Jessica that said:

"Your course that focuses on self acceptance and self love. For me, that is the best lesson anyone can learn. The first step to dating is loving yourself.  I also started seeing someone and it’s the best relationship I've ever had. Your course helped my confidence and I thank you for that. "

A couple months ago I received this text from Jessica: Seth proposed and we’re getting married!

Today we’re talking to Jessica and Seth about their relationship and how it has progressed. We cover the following topics:

Jessica’s dating experience prior to meeting Seth and some of the challenges around dating with a disability.

The progression of your relationship and how they brought Jessica’s disability into the relationship.

What has changed about your relationship.

What was different for Seth about dating someone with a disability.  What drew him to Jessica.

How Seth approached Jessica’s disability that was different from others.

What advice they would give to people with disabilities out there dating or trying to date and meet the right person.

What advice they would  give to someone dating a person with a disability.

Resources

• If you would like to check out the online course that Jessica took  right before she met Seth on Dating, Relationships, and Disability: How to Have Confidence and Succeed.
• The Five Love Languages (book)

Please leave a review of the show.

Credits
Music by: https://www.purple-planet.com "Successful Motivation"
Artwork photo by Elevate

Check out our Dating Memberships:

Dating Made Easier (for all people wanting to date) - is a monthly membership for anyone (with or without disabilities) who wants support and guidance in dating skills and getting the RESULTS you want in dating and relationships. Click here to learn more.

Supporting Dating and Relationships membership (for special educators and professionals in disability services) - is for professionals in the disability field who are looking for training and resources to effectively help students/people with disabilities in developing dating and relationship skills. Click here to learn more.

Music by Successful Motivation |
Artwork photo by Elevate