Dating, relationships and finding love can be tough. But people with disabilities (PWDs) have their own set of challenges when trying to couple up. A lack of accessible spaces, as well as judgement and stereotyping from potential partners, strangers and friends, are just some of the obstacles India's 26.8 million disabled people face. That includes our listener Shagunn Pathak. Shagunn wants to date and find love like her peers but finds herself being labelled as needy or desperate just because she uses an assistive walking device. Why should she be treated any differently, she asks? Evelyn speaks to disability rights activist, motivational speaker and model, Virali Modi, about her experiences of dating with a disability, being in love and exploring one's sexuality. Virali talks about the importance of being unapologetically yourself regardless of whether you have a disability or not – and showing up to make a change in society. Tune in!  

Show notes:  

Evelyn Sharma's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evelyn_sharma/
Virali Modi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viralimodi_/ 

Emergency Response Service System (Pan-India Crisis Hotline): 112 

Suicide Helplines: https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/this-is-serious/list-of-suicide-helplines-in-india/ 

Executive Producer: Melanie von Marschalck, DW Department Life & Style 
Lead Producer: Jennifer Collins
Producer and Lead Research: Sana Rizvi
Assistant Producers: Nicolas Martin, Charli Shield
DW Format and Product Development: Laura Döing
Sound Engineer: Thomas Schmidt
Editorial Support: Snigdha Sharma, Anant Nath Sharma, Shashank Bhargava