Disabled People Are Sharing The Ways Their Partners Make Them Feel Loved

People with disabilities are sharing the ways their partners make them feel comforted and loved on Twitter. The tweets were inspired after Imani Barbarin, an American woman living in France, reached out to ask: “What are some of the physical ways your partner makes you feel loved that are different from the way abled people show love?”

Barbarin has cerebral palsy has writes about her experiences on her blog Crutches & Spice. She asked people to respond to her using the hashtag #YouCanLoveMeButYouCantHoldMyHand.

Her tweet sparked hundreds of replies from people with disabilities, all showing that affection can be displayed in unique and alternative ways.

1. He functions as my crutch.

My amazing partner functions as my literal crutch, he always holds my hand so that I don't lose balance & encourages me to slow down. Plus: foot rubs 🙌💗 https://t.co/2Xa2b1gPRQ
— Carolyn Fornoff (@c4noff) June 23, 2018

2. She assists me every week in yoga.

My wife assists me every week in Yoga; she’s a yoga instructor turned LMT so I’m that kind of wicked unbelievable lucky. 🌟 She brings me coffee in bed every morning too. I mean.
— LaLima Design ♿️ (@LaLimaDesign) June 22, 2018

3. He washes my hair.

Washing my hair because I'm too exhausted to do it.
Massaging my back when it's too tense and hurting
Heating up a hot pad when I'm having digestive cramps
Buying and making special food to fit my dietary restrictions. 💖 https://t.co/kgkCUSn5ME
— Violette 😽🦄 (@violette_brad) June 23, 2018

4. He pops my joints back.

I can't self propel my wheelchair and even tho he hates getting sweaty, he still pushes my chair no matter how hot it is outside. 😍

And he always makes sure to give me the right number of pain pills for my headaches 😭

+ Popping my joints back into place for me 💖 https://t.co/yXa0GXaDqs
— Glorious Vampire Fatty💖💙💜 (@jkcanaan) June 22, 2018

5. He bathes me.

He loves me as much now as he did before I became disabled. He helps me sit up if I'm in pain. He helps me bathe safely. He carries me if I cant walk. He gets my heat packs when I'm hurting. He isn't perfect but I love him. https://t.co/Rj1N39JBKD
— Kimberley (@KimmieChan1995) June 22, 2018

6. He takes me out to play Pokemon Go.

I love playing pokemon go. When I have a bad fibro flare walking is ridiculously painful. He'll bundle me up in the car with a soft hoodie and lots of beverages and take me for a very slow drive around the neighborhood pokestops. https://t.co/e67SBdqG0d
— Cass "Adorable Until Dangerous" Williams (@CoastalWilliams) June 22, 2018

7. He dresses me.

He dresses me on days I can't dress myself. He feeds me on days I can't feed myself. It's not just affection, but dedication. https://t.co/lIHsGIpjlp
— Kim from Kansas ☭ ♿ (@kim_from_kansas) June 22, 2018

8. He made up salsa moves so I could dance with him.

Had an amazing bf at 20 who was a killer salsa dancer. He made up new moves for me that would take the pressure off my knees. I danced!
— Kat Macfarlane (@KatAMacfarlane) June 22, 2018

9. He strokes my scars.

He touches my scars and stubs. I used to flinch bc scars and stubs. But that’s one way I knew he loved me
— Four Wheels ♿️ (@4WheelWorkOut) June 24, 2018

10. He walks at my slow pace.

I get a pass on house hold chores and grocery trips when it's flaring up and sometimes if it sneaks up while we're out, we both walk slow and sit down along the way. https://t.co/N8YsK41DsS
— sanleigh (@sanleigh) June 22, 2018

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