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OREM — Songs by Katy Perry and One Direction were huge hits Thursday at a special needs prom for adults with developmental disabilities.
Between the 40 Canyon View Junior High School student council members who planned the event and the 100 adults who attended, there was no shortage of singing and dancing.
Daunetta Larsen, the student council adviser, said one girl was especially grateful for the experience.
"One of my students came up to me today and she said, 'Mrs. Larsen, I feel like this is the closest I've come to heaven. I can't belive what being here, this experience, has done for me.'"
The prom was a chance for the community to come together and for everyone to feel good, said Lindsey Bingham, a direct support professional from TURN Community Services, a nonprofit organization helping people with disabilities to live, work and play in their communities.
“I saw some flips going on, I believe, and lots of twirling," she said. "They had a lot of fun.”
Dancers ranged from 20 to 80 years old. According to Bingham, the eighth- and ninth-graders who hosted the adults did not shy away from asking them to dance.
They were really excited. They love getting dressed up. Some people got new dresses. They were so happy. They were so excited to dance and just enjoy the moment.
–Ashlee Vigil, employee at TURN
“They just blended in really well," she said. "They seemed very comfortable with everything, and they made sure that no one was left out, but that everyone was able to dance with someone."
Larsen's daughter, who's in the TURN program, attended the event in a red dress. Larsen said she could see how the prom had an impact from both ends of the spectrum.
“They’re out there asking them to dance, and it makes everyone feel good," she said.
Ashlee Vigil, the administrative assistant at TURN, said she thought the adults really liked the music the students chose and the opportunity to take pictures with the students in a photo booth.
“They were really excited. They love getting dressed up," Vigil said. "Some people got new dresses. They were so happy. They were so excited to dance and just enjoy the moment.” Email: mcollette@deseretnews.com Twitter: MirandaCollette
