In this Valentine’s season conversation, panelists explored how confidence and belonging take shape within interabled relationships of all kinds: romantic, platonic, and professional. Through lived experience and practical examples, the discussion highlighted shared how supportive communities, healthy boundaries, and curiosity over assumption can strengthen connection across all spaces and dynamics.
Build communities that meet you where you are.
Thriving relationships don’t happen in isolation. Cultivate communities (friends, colleagues, family members, and even online spaces) that understand and respect your lived experience. Identify people who listen without trying to fix, set expectations about access needs early, and invest in environments where your identity is affirmed rather than questioned. Support systems should create ease, not additional pressure.
You don’t owe anyone your whole story.
Confidence grows when you release the pressure to educate or justify yourself in every interaction. Choose when and how to share personal experiences, especially around disability and relationship dynamics. Use boundary-setting language like, “I’m not comfortable discussing that,” redirect intrusive questions, and remember that privacy is not secrecy, it’s autonomy.
Replace assumptions with active curiosity.
Assumptions about independence, roles, or capacity can quietly strain relationships. Replacing them with curiosity builds trust. Ask open-ended questions like, “What works best for you?” or “How can I support you here?” Practice pausing before reacting.
When we create space for honesty and mutual respect, connection becomes more authentic and sustainable. Belonging deepens when everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
A special thank you to our panelists for sharing their insight and perspectives: