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Sarah Kennedy

Professor Hughes

English Composition 1201-518

27 March 2022

The Impact of Daylight Prom

Imagine a place where individuality and one's differences are admired and

welcomed rather than judged and defied. Imagine 15 year old special needs student

Skylar, walking into a highschool that indulges in challenging others to look past the

surface and embrace the variations that our world loves to disvalue. A place where

encouragement is habitual and love is not confined to a conditional expression.

However, this could not be farther from reality as high school has proven to be one of

the least likely places one could walk into and not feel judged. Luckily surrounding

schools in Warren County Ohio have chosen to make a difference and defy the

normalcy as they put together an event specifically for special needs students known as

Daylight Prom. Daylight Prom provides an experience for students and volunteers to

embrace different disabilities and provides an uplifting, non judgmental environment for

them to thrive in as well. This prom-like atmosphere contributes to the theme of

challenging the idea that disabilities restrict students from obtaining a normal high

school experience. It not only provides an opportunity for students to indulge in typical

high school activities, but as well for their parents to receive comfort in knowing their

kids are being provided with an intentional staff and getting to be involved in a normal

high school event. Although Daylight Prom is focused on special needs students,
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bringing students without special needs in as volunteers creates an opportunity for both

types of students to come together in an atmosphere of inclusion for all (Minero).

A favorite core memory of Daylight Prom is walking into the high school before

the event. We were able to get ready with our dates and take pictures. A key moment

was when my sister and I first walked into the room, my date Skyler walked up to me

with a bashful look and proceeded to give me a flower that clips into your hair. Finally

we arrived at the event and while all of the students were walking into the venue with

our dates, as soon as we walked through those front doors Skyler grasped onto my

hand and we ran over to the dance floor. There was a moment where we were dancing

and he still had not let go of my hand as if he was making sure that I was not going

anywhere. Eventually he was assured that I would stay by his side the entire day and

we then visited the photo booth, the snack tables and even walked outdoors to get a

breath of fresh air. We later met up with some of his friends and my sister who was also

an escort and began to dance to the song cotton eyed joe. Halfway through the song we

all mentioned our legs had started to hurt from all the jumping but refused to stop

dancing for the sheer fact that we all knew the song would be over soon.

The opportunity to participate in Daylight Prom activities would not be possible

without the dedication and bewildering mentality of the after school program Student

Government. Without this specific club the chances of these specific events taking place

within schools is close to zero. Their main goal when planning events such as Daylight

Prom is to involve the students as much as possible and to make sure the special

needs students enjoyment is the main priority of the night. Throughout the event there

are many exciting activities which take place. For instance the event provides a variety
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of games and activities as well as a ginormous photo booth to encourage new

friendships built through pictures. The activities build into the breathtaking night as

these specific events tend to provide comfort and a sense of community to students

who are set apart during normal school activities. Student government not only goes out

of their way to provide a welcoming environment for each student who walks through

the front doors but a safe one as well. Katie Hill from Little Miami High Schools student

government states that, “you have these students that might not have this opportunity to

be a part of this, and have that rite of passage” (Setters). The chance to see these

students light up a room with their smiles in pure awe of the night, makes the hard work

pay off in an instance. Not only is there now a passion to continue the festivities for

years to come but also make more of an effort throughout the entire school year to allow

for students with disabilities to feel more loved and engaged with the student body.

While the event is pretty self explanatory, there is a lot of work that goes behind

the scenes to make the event come alive. Little Miami High School for the last few years

has been the designated school which is in charge of planning out the event. The initial

tasks include picking out the overall theme of the night and the design/logo to market

the event on flyers, social media posts and t-shirts. They are also in charge of booking

the venue, brainstorming decor/the overall vision and then reaching out to a variety of

vendors.

The overall goal is to provide an experience that’ll leave students with memories

that’ll last forever. When confronted with the reality of how students with disabilities are

treated throughout high school it sadly boils down to the kind of effort the students and

staff choose to pour into them. The availability to pursue a relationship with these
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students is always present yet very rarely do we find ourselves going the extra mile to

form these relationships. Unfortunately there has been proven to be a barrier between

students who deal with disabilities to those who don't. The reason events such as

Daylight Prom hold so much weight in high school is because of the community that it

brings into these students' lives. This could very well be the first time a student is able to

be fully embraced and accepted as they truly are by a variety of different students their

own age. Constant battles are being fought daily within each of these students' lives, the

last confrontation they need to be dealing with is the division seven hours every day

they are forced to engage with at school. Now more than ever there is an assumed way

of interacting with special needs students as many forget the most thoughtful response

is to proceed as if interacting in a normal conversation. Many choose to belittle these

students and proceed to exchange in prideful interactions, leaving many feeling

depreciated and as if he/she is not welcomed. Daylight Prom is one of the many events

which allow individuals who truly care for these students to express their love and

affection in an environment where certain types of behavior are not tolerated to any

degree. Disabilities should never be the determining factor on how someone is treated

or respected but instead looked upon as a humbling moment to change one's

perspective on life.

Daylight Prom is not only an event that focuses on special needs students but it

is also a day where their families are able to come and interact with all the festivities as

well. Providing a child with the security and guidance they need is hard enough as a

parent, yet adding on a disability can make room for a different kind of effort to be

necessary. Daylight Prom is a place where parents can witness their child engaging
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within a community where they are able to feel accepted and valued. The joy that

sprouts off of their faces after every new song that is played leaves everyone in pure

awe of how important events like these truly are. The impact that Daylight Prom can

leave on a students life can be immeasurable when it comes to comparing it to other

events that occur throughout the school year. It provides an intentional atmosphere that

allows room for not only the students to engage in but their families and friends as well.

Daylight prom transpires under even more convenient and comforting conditions as it

occurs in the same hours to which the students and staff would usually spend

throughout the school day. This not only benefits the families but the school staff as well

as they still would provide regular bus schedules for students who were not able to have

a parent or guardian attend.

Daylight Prom influences many, but specifically the escorts who volunteer to step

in as dates for these students. Many weeks prior to the event the escorts create creative

promposals which are catered to the students' likes and interests. The escorts dedicate

almost the whole day to their dates. From getting ready in the morning and hyping them

up on the bus to being their dance partner and biggest fan throughout the event. Their

priority throughout the day is to make sure each student feels loved and is enjoying their

time. While being a student's date can be extremely exciting, it holds a lot of

responsibility as well. Not only is the school staff relying on the escort to engage with

their date throughout the entirety of the night but the parents are as well. Though being

able to contribute to the fun is very much encouraged, one also must take into account

that the night is not geared towards making sure the escorts are the ones being

prioritized. To be able to receive an inside look on how impactful days like these can be
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for special needs students is undeniably beneficial to each and every escort and

volunteer. It allows them to see the completion of meaningful conversations and to see

things from a different perspective. They need to set aside their own expectations and

help make the prom a success by meeting the needs and expectations of each special

needs student.

Daylight prom having a lasting impact on the individuals a part of the night allows

for the surrounding community to see the fruition of the event as well. As students come

and go, more and more people are able to see the impression the event has on those

who graduate. It provides a comforting reality check that schools are still providing

access to events that advocate for people with disabilities. In the year 2019 WLWT5

showed up to interview a few students and staff members who helped plan the event.

“Eleven [schools] from Butler County and Warren counties attended, including students

with disabilities, their peer escorts, teachers, paraprofessionals and family members”

(Rogers). Through the publication of these news articles other schools around the area

are able to hear of the event and possibly even reach out to adding their school as well.

This not only allows for Daylight Prom to grow in popularity but also the opportunity for

special education students within other schools to be included in the festivities as well.

When considering all the feelings that one indulges in when hearing the word

prom, many only consider the excitement and high expectations of the night. Yet for

most of these students prom is more than just finding the perfect outfit and choosing a

date. Many of these students are not used to engaging in events such as prom, so to a

variety of students it can be overwhelming and challenging. Rocky Breedlove, a special

education teacher at Edgewood high school expressed how he was able to witness
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many transformations in his students' attitudes. For example he mentioned, “ many who

were normally shy and uncomfortable in high-stimulation environments” were able to

navigate past that and as soon as they entered the event they, “made a beeline to the

other dancers [allowing] the waves of music [to wash] away any shyness” (Clark). This

is just one example of many other stories of students coming out of their shell and

embracing all that Daylight Prom has to offer. Allowing these students to feel a sense of

independence and superiority can make a world of difference for a day. Stripping away

the intimidation and overwhelming atmosphere of the night opens doors for a lifetime

milestone to be made.

The provided picture is from a WLWT5 interview from the 2019 Daylight Prom that I was

a volunteer escort at.

Though Daylight Prom provides many staff and family members to attend, many

argue that the escorts are not properly trained to work with these students regardless of
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the environment. Some of these concerns are known to come from parents who know

and trust the schools staff and resources. This concern is dealt with by the fact that the

same primary school staff is present and available throughout the entire day. Never are

the special needs students put into situations that would be harmful to their health and

safety. During my experience as a student escort the school staff made it a priority to

talk to each escort prior to the event to expand on the responsibility and importance of

their assistance. While this does continue to be a raised concern for many individuals,

families are welcomed to attend at any time throughout the event. Before anything

safety has always held high importance as it would for any other high school event or

activity.

Since Covid-19, families and school staff are still trying to adjust from having their

special ed students transition from a home environment to the classroom. For many of

these students, events such as Daylight Prom held an immense amount of excitement

heading into the school year. Because of the cancellations of these events, many of

these students are faced with a lack of motivation and excitement for the upcoming

school year. “School closures were a significant disruption, followed by lack of physical

activity and social isolation”, because of this students struggled immensely (Lee, ward,

Chang, and Downing). This as well has made events such as Daylight Prom hard to

plan as safety precautions take main priority throughout these festivities. As prom

season approaches this is a constant question to whether it is smart to proceed with

planning the event or not. We see time and time again there is a specific “performance

[in students] who have special education needs in ordinary classrooms [rather than

achieved] in special settings” (Gurney). And being a member of my school's student

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government, this opportunity has allowed me to be a part of this ongoing decision since

the school year has begun. As of recently we have decided that due to the event being

in a larger venue this year, Daylight Prom will finally be coming back after being

canceled the past two years. The embodiment of joy and excitement has been put on

hold for too long for these students. Allowing this year to be a reminder that things may

never fully go back to normal but that does not mean that there must be an absence of

all the things these students once loved.

Though Daylight Prom may be a gateway into forming an interaction between

students within different communities, it is our job to continue moving forward with these

connections. Disabilities have been one of the main divisions between students in high

school. Yes, there are popularity gaps and different clicks but when it really comes down

to prioritizing relationships between all students, we get confused when we are called to

expand our love for special needs students as well. Engaging within a fruitful

conversation is one thing, but prioritizing a relationship between these students is an

impact that many of them won't forget.

Daylight Prom continues to be an event that allows for students to be loved and

accepted despite the confinements which society has placed them in. It continues to be

a place that builds relationships and community within high school students which under

different circumstances may not have been made. For example, 15 year old special

needs student, Skyler, was my date to Daylight Prom three years ago. To this day me

and Skyler talk every week in the hallways and I can always look forward to embracing

his bear hugs after second bell. Without the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing

event, our friendship would have never occurred and I would not be able to take him to
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Daylight Prom again this year. The expectations of the night are met with high standards

as every game, every new song, and every escort is catered to making the night as

memorable as they can for each special needs student who walks into the room. All

from the vendors to the decorations, every volunteer makes this night a priority to

involve students with disabilities the chance to engage in an essential part of high

school. Daylight Prom continues to challenge students and volunteers to be able to

embrace different disabilities while also engaging in an environment where students are

able to thrive without the fear of judgment. This event proves that love can be

conditional when one refrains from putting themselves in a position to be vulnerable with

others who don't receive the same daily experiences as you. The most profound

characteristic of Daylight Prom is not the planning process leading up to the night or the

hours one spends picking out a dress but the intentionality behind each and every

conversation which is had during the event.

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Works Cited

Clark, Michael D. “For Special Needs Students, Daylight Prom a Magical Event.”

Journal, Journal News, 22 Apr. 2018,

https://www.journal-news.com/news/local-education/for-special-needs-students-d

aylight-prom-magical-event/A2nD8q7aRZtkIGu7tiepZL/.

Gurney, Peter W. “Self-Esteem in Children with Special Educational Needs: Peter W.

Gurn.” Taylor & Francis, Taylor & Francis, 20 Aug. 2018,

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780429503627/self-esteem-

children-special-educational-needs-peter-gurney.

Lee, Shawna J., et al. “Parenting Activities and the Transition to Home-Based Education

during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Children and Youth Services Review,

Pergamon, 13 Oct. 2020,

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740920320089.
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Minero, Emelina. “How to Improve Students with Disabilities' Sense of Belonging.”

Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2 July 2020,

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-improve-students-disabilities-sense-belongi

ng.

Rogers, Allison. “Special Needs Students Attend Sensory-Friendly Daylight Prom.”

WLWT, WLWT, 20 Apr. 2018,

https://www.wlwt.com/article/special-needs-students-attend-sensory-friendly-dayli

ght-prom/19876348#.

Setters, Andrew. “Daylight Prom Held for Special-Needs Students in West Chester.”

WLWT, WLWT, 26 Apr. 2019,

https://www.wlwt.com/article/daylight-prom-held-for-special-needs-students-in-we

st-chester/27286863.