2023 Special Needs Prom Spurs Excitement, Laughter

Gena Carson dances with her daughter during the 2023 Special Needs Prom.

The 2023 Special Needs Prom kicked off at the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge in Frankfort on Saturday with an attendance of around 65 people.

During the event, attendees of all ages were invited to dress to impress and enjoy a meal, dancing and bonding moments with peers in the community. Attendees were sporting western attire, suits, prom dresses and more to fit the theme of “Giddy Up” for this year’s prom. Organizer Gena Carson stated that the Clinton County Autism Support Group hosts the prom every year to include every individual in the community with special needs and to create a community amongst one another.

“It’s just a good time for our folks to get together, eat, dance and socialize with one another,” Carson said. “We wanted to open it up to everyone–Whether you have autism, we have folks with down syndrome, we have a huge neurodiverse population–and we just wanted to make sure everybody feels included.”

Braiden and Audra are named Cowboy, Prom King, and Cowgirl, Prom Queen.

Carson stated that the idea to organize a prom for those with special needs in the community was spawned to give every person in the county an opportunity to experience the high school staple regardless of their age and background.

“This was an opportunity for kids that may not necessarily get an opportunity to go to a traditional high school prom,” Carson said. “This gives them the opportunity to experience that.”

Carson continued to comment that all of the events organized through the Autism Support Group are intended to continue supporting and raising awareness for those in the community with special needs, and she stated that the group organizes approximately four events throughout the year, including the prom, the Walk-A-Mile for Autism walk, Christmas events, picnics and more.

Attendees showcase their best moves on the dance floor.

“This is for everybody of all ages from one to 100,” Carson said. “Once our kiddos age out of high school, it’s like what do we do now? Whether some of our kids are able to go to work or some of our kids are sitting at home or some of our kids go to adult day programs, we want to just make sure that we keep them active. We want to have things available for them. Although there are a lot of events that go on in the community, not all events are necessarily inclusive to our individual’s needs.”

Four sets of parents with children that have an autism diagnosis helped organize the event and other events through the Autism Support Group. One of the parents stated that if the theme was chosen by their daughter, it would be centered around horses, which inspired the western theme and the inclusion of “Giddy Up,” the horse portrayed by Jason Earl.

Giddy Up, Jason Earl, takes Braiden and Audra on a “horse-drawn carriage ride.”

“We always try to mix it up a little bit each year, so this year along with the whole theme of Giddy Up and the horse, we asked if anybody was willing to wear a horse costume,” Carson said. “One of our dads, Jason Earl, said he would, and they happen to have a golf cart, so we did not necessarily have a horse carriage, but we played on that theme, so he was able to take our King and Queen for a ride around the property here, and I think they really enjoyed it.”

Carson expressed that the events allow for the attendees to bond as well as parents of children with special needs to form a community with each other that may help support them through difficulties and successes.

“It’s really a way for the parents to connect too,” Carson said. “A parent who doesn’t have a child with special needs may not understand the life that we live, so we all come together and help support one another too.”

Carson extended a statement of gratitude toward the Frankfort Moose Lodge for hosting the event, which has hosted numerous Christmas parties for the organization throughout the past decade. Danny Carr, Frankfort Moose Lodge Administrator, stated that once the group approached the lodge about hosting the event, the members immediately accepted.

Attendees dance to the “Y.M.C.A.”

“We’ve done the Christmas thing for years and years and years and years,” Carr said. “They contacted us to see if we were interested in hosting them, and we were all about it. We have volunteers that help with everything, so it was something that we didn’t think twice about. That’s how we got involved.”

Carr expressed that supporting local organizations striving to spread positivity and awareness aligns perfectly with the mission of the Moose.

“We all enjoy it, and they all enjoy it, so it’s a win-win for everybody,” Carr said. “We try to give back to the community as much as we can. We try to donate as much as we can.”

The Clinton County Autism Support Group will participate in a trunk or treat event during the second Saturday of October with the Piece by Piece Autism Center. During the event, the group will distribute sensory items. Carson stated that one of the main focuses of the next few months will be including parents in bi-monthly meetings to bond and deepen the community for parents of children with special needs.

More pictures and videos from the 2023 Special Needs Prom are available on Facebook.

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