Good friendships do not always come easy. It takes time and effort to meet people and form a bond. It is even harder for people living in a wheelchair. Most disabled people struggle to keep up with friends. They often feel invisible and unable to connect with people outside of the disabled community.
That is why we have this article. To walk the journey with you and help you form lasting bonds of friendship. We will give you recommendations on growing your circle of friends.
Tips on how disabled people can make more friends:
Join A Disability Sports Team
Sports is a great way to get involved in physical activity, meet new people, and make new friends. Joining a sports team will give you the opportunity to meet like-minded people that you can easily bond with. You can also join clubs such as the chess club, debating clubs and any other social groups. These will help you meet your goals of making more friends.
Determine what works for you. Whether a sports team or club and enroll. That gives you instant access to more people and from there you can work on creating lasting circles of friends.
Maintain A Positive Attitude Towards The People Around You
Positivity attracts positivity. When you are focused on being happy, it is easier for others to be drawn to you. As a disabled person when you have a positive attitude it will make the people around you empathetic rather than sorry. Stay positive and you will attract people with positive vibes.
In addition, always be polite and smile at people. Make it your mission to spread positivity and people will be drawn towards you. Remember that being nice can make someone’s day better than what they may otherwise have expected it to be. Maybe doing that will have more people stick around for friendships with you.
Be Presentable And Approachable
You know the saying “…you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression”. It is true, and that includes how you look like when meeting someone for the first time. Although not everyone always gets it right to wake up in those early hours and look like they are coming off the front page of Vogue magazine, it is important to make it a habit to make yourself presentable. It will be worth your while when people notice.
Remembering basic things such as brushing your hair before going to the sport club can make an impression. It is the tiny details that go far in forming relationships with others.
There are many ways to turn yourself into a more polished and memorable person. From the way you carry yourself in terms of body language and clothes. Make sure that how you present yourself reflects who you really are.
There you have it. If you are struggling to make friends because you are disabled, our tips above are great starting point. Remember that friendship take time and require effort. We wish you luck as you make more friends.