After eight years of marriage, she said the relationship is strong. And Doesn't Still, entering into a marriage with a pre-existing condition tends to be easier on couples than when a disability enters the relationship postunion, according to Webb. That means her husband may have to fix her wheelchair now and then. And he needs to be understanding if it takes her a little while longer to get ready to go out. In the end, she said, it all works out.
Couples experiencing more severe or sudden disability often have it harder.
Issues with the disability can filter through to affect aspects of the marriage itself, like intimacy. Over time she'll learn to manage it and it will become less of an issue. But, initially, disability is so stressful on the individual that it certainly impacts the marriage. Caregiving activities like bathing, dressing and feeding, can also complicate the relationship. Bathing or dressing aren't activities that we typically do for someone we're romantically or sexually involved with.