On Apr. 2, the Buddy Club put on another successful Adaptive prom further developing the future of students and a progression in our community that is meant to spread beyond the county.
The dance serves as a place for students in special education programs to have a curated high school experience amongst their peers that mirrors the environment seen in a typical prom while adhering to their specific needs.
“There’s a whole team of us, considering Ms. Brown and her cosmetology students helped our students with hair and makeup, and Mrs.Thompson contacted places around the community for food donations,” SPED teacher and Buddy Club sponsor Ashley Pullen said. “Mr. Lee is going to be a DJ, so it takes a lot of effort just getting everybody together, but our Buddy Club officers do the bulk of the planning.”
The success of this event depends on the efforts of the sponsors, club members, and the involvement of the community, but ultimately rests within the students’ personal experience. Buddy Club officers work extensively within their limited club time to organize these events to give these students fond and memorable moments to look back on.
“The theme is an enchanted garden, so we’re doing flowers and fairy tale inspired decoration,” Buddy Club Co-President Christina White said. “The dance and the club helps them connect with other kids and not just their classmates.”
The impact of this program stretches beyond the benefits it provides to individuals with special needs because it gives people the opportunity to gain new perspectives on topics that might go unnoticed by simply growing relationships with their peers.
“Definitely something that I think everybody should try once. It’s very moving because it’s working with the kids that you don’t see everyday,” White said “It’s different types of kids that you can work with that are really fun to work with.”
Pullen believes that Adaptive Prom is an event essential to giving her students experiences that they would not have in the majority of other school systems. Our Special Education department works each day to bypass barriers and guide these students into fulfilled and successful lives.
“I do think that it’s unique to our schools,” Pullen said. “I think it is pretty unique for at least our surroundings anyway.”
Lavarne Bradshaw, O’Rondae Ashew’s mother, was overjoyed to attend this event again with her son, so she prepared various food items such as chicken salad sandwiches, ham and cheese biscuits, and banana pudding to show her appreciation and support.
“It is very important to me because we are equal. I love this because the other kids get to have it, so we get to have it too,” Bradshaw said. “This might be his last year here, so I decided to go all out.
