Disabled man, 26, reveals how strangers pray over him, and mistake his able-bodied girlfriend, 23, for his NURSE because they believe she is too 'beautiful' to be with him

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A disabled man who uses a wheelchair and his able-bodied girlfriend have appeared on TV to discuss how she is often mistaken for being his carer or mother. 

Shane Burcaw, 26, from Pennsylvania, who was born with a neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), met girlfriend Hannah Aylward, 23, after she reached out to him via email. 

But they constantly receive negative reactions from strangers, including someone who prayed over him, and a waitress who assumed he wasn't capable of paying a bill.

Others have patted him on the head, while one man invited him to play with their children who were blowing bubbles as the couple were enjoying a romantic picnic.  

Shane Burcaw, 26, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and his able-bodied girlfriend Hannah Aylward, 23, appeared on British show This Morning to discuss their interabled romance

Viewers took to social media to express what a 'heartwarming' couple they were and how inspiring Shane's message was that life with a disability can still be 'beautiful' 

In love: Shane and Hannah have been for almost three years after Hannah emailed Shane while he was living in Pennsylvania, and they now chart their lives on a popular YouTube channel

'I think there are pretty widespread misconceptions about disability in society,' explained Shane, appearing on British TV show This Morning.   

'People with disabilities are often seen as less than, so the idea that someone with a disability like me will be given this intelligent, beautiful, able-bodied woman is mind-blowing to some people - and it shouldn't be.'

And viewers took to social media to praise Shane for speaking out and highlighting the fact that life with a disability can still be 'beautiful.' 

'Absolutely heartwarming couple. I wish them all the best,' wrote one viewer, while another penned: 'What a beautiful couple. Shane and Hannah.' 

Speaking of how they met over the internet three years ago, Shane explained: 'There was a documentary done about me and one fateful night Hannah was online, watched it and found me out of the blue. 

'She struck up a conversation and we discussed how much we had in common. I read that email and thought her sense of humor is perfect. 

Shane, who has been in a wheelchair since he was just two years old, continued: 'We lived a thousand miles apart at the time so we began to email and then text and then FaceTime, until she began to visit.'

Hannah explained one occasion when a waitress actually asked her whether Shane was able to pay the bill at a restaurant, after assuming he wasn't capable

The couple was praised on Twitter after their appearance on the show, with users taking to the site to celebrate Shane and Hannah for 'showing that disabled people can live "normal" lives' 

Bundled up: 'Because of my disability and my wheelchair, people have a hard time seeing us as boyfriend and girlfriend,' Shane explained in a recent YouTube video

Holiday spirit: Since creating their YouTube account, Shane and Hannah have racked up more than 120,000 followers who love to keep up with their relationship 

The couple, who document their journey on inspirational YouTube channel entitled Squirmy and Grubs in an attempt to 'normalize' so-called interabled relationships, also discussed some of the hurtful actions they have encountered since being a couple.

'A couple of weeks ago we were at a restaurant and I'd gone to the bathroom and Shane was still at the table,' said Hannah. 

'The waitress came over and Shane asked for the check. When I came back she came back to the table and said, "He asked for the check - is that OK?" People just assume he's not capable of doing things.'  

And viewers, including those who have experienced similar strange looks and responses with regards to their own disabilities, jumped to Shane's defence and urged people to 'leave him alone.'

'I can totally relate to Shane Burcaw and Hannah Aylward,' wrote one. 'Whenever I am out in my wheelchair there are always people who are looking and whispering.

'Your disability doesn't stop you falling in love with someone.'

Another penned:  'So good to see @shaner528 on your show! To show that disabled people can live 'normal' lives, be in relationships and love all things able bodied people do, like in my case fashion.'

Speaking to presenters Holly and Phil, the happy couple also discussed another occasion when a stranger randomly approached them and prayed over Shane. 

'This woman came over, laid her hands on me and said, 'Lord give this man has a happy life,' explained Shane. 'I was like I have a happy life - what are you talking about?'

Happy together: Shane has used a wheelchair since the age of two, however he and Hannah insist that this doesn't stop them from enjoying a full and happy love life

The happy couple now use their blog to help people realize how 'normal' their life is and that people with disabilities are 'just like anybody else'

'I almost fell off my chair!' Long-time fans of the couple's YouTube videos were thrilled to see that they had made an appearance 

Shane told how people also think it's acceptable to pat him on the head and often assume he is a child - despite being 26 years old.

'There was a man in a park when we was on a nice romantic picnic whose kids were playing with bubbles,' said Hannah, talking about a memorable moment. 

'The guy ran over to me really excited and asked me if Shane wanted to play with his bubbles. Shane just said no thank you.' 

The loved-up pair now use their blog to help people realise how 'normal' their life is and that people with disabilities are 'just like anybody else.' 

'It just comes from a lack of knowledge and experience,' said Shane. 

'By showing people on our YouTube channel the ins and outs of our daily life, we're giving them that experience and showing them that it's just as normal and satisfying as any other life.' 

On their YouTube channel, which has amassed a dedicated following of more than 147,000 subscribers since it was created, the couple speaks candidly about many aspects of their relationship, from how they go about day-to-day tasks, to their first night spent together as a couple. 

Their first vlog introduced the couple to the public and included snuggles on the couch, jokes about Shane's time management skills, doing household chores, and a road trip to Pennsylvania.

Funny: Hannah and Shane use both Instagram and YouTube to normalize their relationship and show people what their lives entail on a daily basis

Helpful: They want their vlogs to help show people how an interabled relationship works 

Priorities: After Hannah graduates from college, the couple has talked about the possibility of kids and for Hannah to attend law school 

The couple has also sat down to film a few Q&A videos for their followers, with Hannah insisting that she doesn't ever feel as though she is 'trapped' as a caregiver, and with both of them speaking candidly about having a fulfilling physical relationship.

Although both admit that they are hesitant to answer what they describe as 'creepy' questions about the more intimate aspects of their relationship, they have spoken previously about their desire to have children together, with Shane explaining in an old post on his blog that he is 'perfectly capable of having sex'.

'I get boners and my boners shoot sperm, so having kids is a real option,' he wrote at the time.

Commenters on the first video praised the couple for working to break down ideas about disabilities by showing the realities of their relatinship.

'I also have SMA and seeing that an actual relationship is possible warms my heart,' a top commenter wrote.

But that doesn't stop others from feeling the need to question and theorize why the two people might be together because of Shane's disability.

'Every time we post a new episode on our vlog, people inevitably comment with theories as to why on earth we are dating,' Shane said.

One person commented saying Shane seemed like a 'good dude' but that Hannah had to obviously just be his caretaker otherwise 'she's got a couple screws loose'.

While another commenter has called the relationship 'abnormal and frankly disgusting'.