Yet their initiative, an Australian first, has not only helped Illawarra residents with a disability to socialise – it’s allowed many to find love in all the right places.

So this Friday they’re trialling a new concept – a ‘’traffic light party’’ where patrons get to mingle and meet others for friendship, or more.

‘’We have had hundreds of people attend Ables over the past two years,’’ Mr O’Neill said.

‘’We have seen people become couples and couples become fiancés at the regular Ables nights. 

‘’Now we are going one step further and having a night that is all about meeting new people.’’

Shellharbour’s Shaun Iacovelli and Sarah Sparidaans are among those for whom love has blossomed at the events. The couple, who both have a mild intellectual disability, have now been engaged for 12 months and are busy planning a wedding.

‘’I’ve been to nearly every event since Ables started,’’ Ms Sparidaans said. ‘’I just love the atmosphere – the music, the lights, the people – you can walk in and feel comfortable and just be yourself.

‘’It doesn’t matter if you’re in a wheelchair, if you can’t hear or have any other disability – you still want to dance, have fun and meet nice people.’’

Mr Iacovelli encouraged others to come along on Friday night, and try and meet their perfect match.

The dress code will be green for those who are ‘’single and ready to mingle’’; amber for ‘’maybe, and we can chat’’ and red for ‘’taken but here to party’’.

‘’We’ll be wearing red,’’ Mr Iacovelli said. ‘’We have each other but we still like to come along and dance and enjoy ourselves.’’

Co-founder Mr Thatcher said he’s seen people gain confidence and self-esteem through the monthly events.

‘’Ables is at the forefront of changing the social lives of people with disabilities throughout the Illawarra,’’ he said. ‘’We’ve been overwhelmed by its success, and it’s just getting bigger and bigger.’’

The traffic light party will be held from 7.30pm on Friday at The Ivory Nightclub, 77 Crown St, Wollongong. Tickets are $12 on the night, or $10 pre-event at www.trybooking.com/NGZS.

Ables nightclub is sponsored by several leading disability support organisations including The Disability Trust, Greenacres, Flagstaff, Northcott and Interchange Illawarra.