Friday, 29 Mar 2024

Disabled man and able-bodied girlfriend want to show their love to the world

A disabled man and his able-bodied girlfriend want to show off their love to the world.

Shane Burcaw, 26, and Hannah Aylward, 25, document their relationship in a series of YouTube videos in order to help break the stigma they say surrounds people with disabilities. 

They say they want to educate people and normalise their relationship – admitting that strangers often assume Hannah is Shane’s paid caregiver or a relative.

The couple has even discussed having children together after Hannah graduates, according to reports.

"Our goal is to normalise disability and relationships like ours," Shane, from Pennsylvania said.

"When Hannah and I are out in public together, strangers routinely assume that we are siblings, or that she is my paid caregiver, or even worse, my mum."


"There are a variety of damaging stigmas surrounding disability, but one of the most pervasive ideas is that people with a disability are incapable or unworthy of romantic relationships," he added, speaking to the Daily Mail.

Shane was born with a neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and has used a wheelchair since he was two.

Three years ago, Hannah watched a documentary made by The Office’s Rainn Wilson about Shane’s life, and she decided to reach out to him.


She complimented him on his sense of humour in books he writes, and admitted she thought he was cute.

When Hannah wrote to Shane, she didn’t mention his disability and he said he knew immediately he needed to get to know her.

The relationship progressed over text messages and video calls and Hannah, who studies in college in Minnesota, finally went to visit Shane in Pennsylvania.


They spent four days getting to know each other, and as their love blossomed, they knew they wanted to make a long distance relationship work.

But eventually Shane and Hannah moved in to a flat in Minnesota together in 2018.

Hannah was able to continue with her degree.

And when they began sharing a home they started vlogging to tell the world about their union.


The couple now have a YouTube account called Squirmy and Grubs, and use it as a way to banish false perceptions people might have about their relationship.

In the videos they joke about everyday things such as household chores and they are seen laughing and having fun together.

The channel, created six months ago, has more than 127,000 subscribers.

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