Your questions, answered.

Find Love Safely is for adults with IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) who want friendship, dating, or meaningful connection — and for caregivers who want a thoughtful, safe, and respectful process. Members join at many different stages, from first-time daters to those with past relationship experience.

No. Find Love Safely is not a dating app and does not use swiping, algorithms, or open messaging.

No. Some members join to build confidence, learn skills, find friends, or explore what dating means for them before pursuing introductions. There is no pressure to date before someone feels ready.

Yes. Some individuals participate through our Virtual Workshops Membership ($89/month) without joining matchmaking. Virtual Workshops Memberships are available to any adult with an intellectual or developmental disability, regardless of location. Virtual Workshops focus on communication, boundaries, dating skills, and relationship safety in a supportive environment. Some members later choose to join a matchmaking membership, while others participate in Virtual Workshops on their own. If we don't have a Find Love Safely location where you live, a Virtual Workshops Membership is a great way to participate.

We define "intellectual or developmental disability" as a diagnosis that creates social, intellectual, or developmental challenges for you. Examples include: • Autism • Down syndrome • Traumatic brain injury • ADD or ADHD • Fetal alcohol syndrome • Fragile X syndrome • Prader-Willi syndrome • DiGeorge syndrome • CHARGE syndrome • Unspecified intellectual or developmental delays • Any other intellectual or developmental disability not listed here

Yes. We welcome all gender and sexual identities.

We match people for friendships and romantic relationships.

We take time to get to know each member — including interests, goals, communication style, and readiness — and make thoughtful introductions when there appears to be a good potential fit. Introductions are never rushed or random.

Matchmaking timelines vary based on location, preferences, and availability. Some members connect quickly, while others take more time. Quiet periods do not mean inactivity — during these times, we continue actively looking and provide support through Virtual Workshops, coaching, and check-ins.

No. We do not guarantee matches or specific timelines. What we do guarantee is care, intention, and ongoing effort.

During the virtual call, you and your Find Love Safely matchmaker will get to know each other a bit. We will have a few questions to ask about you, and you can ask us anything as well.

Good question — the short answer is, "we don't know." We consider lots of factors when making a match, and there's no limit to the number of matches you're eligible for. We'll keep sending matches until you let us know you no longer want to be considered, and you can pause your membership at any time.

Some of the things we look for: • Do they like some of the same things? • Will they have things to talk about on their date? • Are they in the age range each is looking for? • Are they looking for the same type of relationship (e.g., friendship, long-term relationship)?

While we can't guarantee matches, you can trust that we'll be dedicated to trying to find someone who's just right for you. A good way to help increase your chances is to get friends to sign up too — the more people we have, the easier it is to find matches for everyone.

When we find someone we think will be a good match for you, we'll email both of you to let you know. We include a bio sheet so you can see a photo and learn a little about the person. If you don't want to meet or go on a date, that's okay — we'll keep looking.

No. After we email you your match's bio page, we step out of the process, and the next steps are yours to decide.

Dating and relationships can be tricky, and some won't work out. When you're ready to date again, just let us know and we'll start looking for matches for you.

Virtual Workshops focus on skills like communication, boundaries, online safety, handling rejection, confidence, and healthy relationships. They are interactive, supportive, and designed specifically for adults with IDD.

No. Virtual Workshops are for members. In the Essentials and Concierge programs, caregivers receive a short summary email after each session.

Coaching sessions provide personalized support tailored to the member's needs. Topics may include dating experiences, confidence-building, communication practice, or problem-solving. Coaching is supportive and practical — not therapy.

Coaching sessions canceled with at least 24 hours' notice may be rescheduled. Sessions canceled with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed without notice, are considered completed sessions. If missed sessions become a pattern, our team will reach out to help problem-solve.

Virtual Workshops are included with the Essentials and Concierge programs. Core includes matchmaking support but does not include ongoing Virtual Workshops. They're also available through the Virtual Workshops Membership ($89/month) for individuals who want to participate without joining matchmaking.

Personalized matchmaking is included in all matchmaking memberships (Core, Essentials, and Concierge). Some individuals participate through our Virtual Workshops Membership, which focuses on relationship skill-building and does not include matchmaking.

• Core focuses on matchmaking with light ongoing support • Essentials includes matchmaking plus live Virtual Workshops and caregiver summaries • Concierge includes everything in Essentials plus monthly 1:1 coaching Families can choose the level that feels right and adjust over time. Virtual Workshops are also available through a standalone Virtual Workshops Membership for individuals who want skill-building support without matchmaking.

Yes. Many families begin with the Core Program and decide to add Virtual Workshops or coaching later. Upgrades are always optional and can be discussed at any time.

No. Matchmaking is never paywalled. Upgrading adds support, not access to introductions.

Yes. Families may upgrade at any time. Changes or downgrades are typically reviewed at renewal to ensure the best fit.

Safety is woven into every part of our work, including: • Intentional onboarding and screening • Education around boundaries, consent, and online safety • Thoughtful pacing of introductions • Clear communication with caregivers, when appropriate • ScamCheck to help spot suspicious messages

Caregiver or support-person involvement is discussed during enrollment and your intake call. We talk through who should be included in communication, how decisions are made, and what level of involvement feels appropriate right now. Support involvement can be adjusted over time.

No. Support involvement does not take away a member's independence or voice. Our goal is to balance autonomy and safety in a way that feels respectful for each individual.

Yes. Members may have different levels of support involvement, and this does not automatically prevent a potential match. Our matchmakers consider communication preferences, comfort, and consent for everyone involved.

We communicate based on the preferences established during enrollment. Depending on what's been agreed upon, communication may include the member directly, a caregiver or support person, or both together.

Yes. Support involvement is flexible. If circumstances shift, members or caregivers can contact us to update communication preferences.

Yes. All programs include free admission to local Find Love Safely events, when available in your area.

In newer cities, we offer free access to our Virtual Workshops for three months as a thank-you for joining early. These Virtual Workshops, along with optional 1:1 coaching, provide connection and support while the local community grows.

Find Love Safely offers three membership options. All memberships include personalized matchmaking and free admission to local events when available. Core Program — $349/year. Matchmaking-focused support. Annual only. Essentials Program — $1,299/year or $129/month (3-month minimum). Matchmaking plus twice-monthly live Virtual Workshops. Caregiver email summaries. Concierge Program — $2,799/year or $259/month (3-month minimum). Everything in Essentials plus one monthly 1:1 coaching session. Optional 1:1 coaching sessions may also be added separately.

All membership fees and service fees are non-refundable once a membership term or service period has begun. Cancellations: All memberships auto-renew unless canceled in advance. You may cancel at any time in writing. Your membership remains active through the end of the current billing period. Refunds: We do not offer refunds or credits for unused membership time, missed sessions, changes in participation, or early cancellation. This applies to annual memberships, monthly memberships, Virtual Workshops, and 1:1 coaching sessions. We encourage members or caregivers to contact us if circumstances change so we can discuss next steps thoughtfully.

Yes. All memberships auto-renew unless canceled before your renewal date. Annual memberships renew yearly; monthly memberships renew monthly. We send renewal reminders in advance, and you may cancel at any time.

Matchmaking is a thoughtful, relationship-based process that unfolds over time. An annual structure allows us to do this work without short-term pressure and helps set realistic expectations.

Monthly billing is available for our Essentials and Concierge Programs, which include ongoing education and coaching. The Core Program is offered as an annual membership only.

Yes. Find Love Safely accepts Self-Determination Program (SDP) funds in California and has been approved by several Regional Centers and Financial Management Services (FMS) providers. Because SDP plans are individualized, we recommend speaking with your service coordinator and FMS provider to confirm how Find Love Safely services can be included in your plan.

Yes. Individuals in Massachusetts with self-directed funding through programs such as Agency with Choice (AWC) or Participant-Directed Program (PDP) may be able to use those funds for Find Love Safely services. We recommend speaking with your DDS service coordinator about how to incorporate relationship-building supports into your plan.

Yes. Individuals in Minnesota may be able to use CDCS (Consumer Directed Community Supports) funds through their waiver to pay for Find Love Safely services. Many families have successfully included our services as part of their CDCS budgets. We recommend speaking with your case manager and support planner.

Members who join matchmaking in newly launched cities receive complimentary access to our live Virtual Workshops for their first three months as a thank-you for helping build the local community. This is not a discount — it's an added layer of support during the launch phase.

Core Program may be a good fit if: • You're comfortable taking a slower approach to dating • You already have strong communication and social skills • You prefer minimal structure beyond introductions • You want access to matchmaking and events without added programming This option focuses on thoughtful introductions with light ongoing support.

Essentials Program may be a good fit if: • You're new to dating or want more guidance • You'd like help building confidence and communication skills • You benefit from learning and practicing relationship skills • You want caregivers to stay informed without attending sessions This option offers the best balance of matchmaking and skill-building support.

Concierge Program may be a good fit if: • You benefit from personalized, one-on-one guidance • Dating brings up anxiety or uncertainty • You want regular support processing experiences and building skills • You prefer a highly personalized approach This option provides the highest level of individualized support.

Virtual Workshops may be a good fit if: • You want to build relationship and friendship skills • You want to build communication skills and confidence • You want to practice dating readiness and emotional awareness This option is a great choice because it has live instruction and practice.

Compass app may be a good fit if: • You want self-guided relationship support • You want to watch recorded workshops, review coaching and relationship guidance tools at your own pace • You want safety education This option is a great choice because it allows an individual to build skills at their own pace in a self-guided fashion.