Everyone Gets Crowned King or Queen at This Georgia Prom — and the Reason Will Melt Your Heart
The local park district recently threw its second Super Star Prom, which celebrates people with disabilities
At this event, everyone was a winner.
More than 70 adults with disabilities were each crowned Prom King or Queen on Feb. 24 at the second-annual Super Star Prom in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
“Everything was magical,” says Jane Jarrett, program manager for the city of Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department. "There was dancing non-stop — no one wanted to leave the dance floor."
Guests ages 13 to 72 arrived with their loved ones on a red carpet themed as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ahead of the event, attendees were gifted a glam experience by Paul Mitchell Esani school, who did free hair and makeup for the women and gratis grooming for men.
"It gives everyone an opportunity to come out, make new friends, socialize, be part of the community," says Jarrett, 37. "These programs really create a sense of belonging here in Sandy Springs."
Though there were games, prizes, snacks and a photo booth, guests seemed to have the most fun taking turns at the mic, doing shout outs and requesting songs before securing their crowns.
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Afterward, Jarrett received words of gratitude from several attendees. "One of the parents told me they were just so appreciative of this event as their child did not have an opportunity to go to a 'traditional' prom," she shares. “I really want more people to work on acceptance and having fun together and coming together as a community."
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Next up: Jarrett, a certified adaptive recreation and sports specialist, is hosting the fourth-annual Dino Egg Hunt for people with physical and developmental disabilities — she calls it a “paleontologist spin on a traditional egg hunt.” Jarrett plans to have a fossil dig, custom stuffed eggs with collectable dinosaurs and a meet-and-greet with a “prehistoric T-Rex.”
“I try to be intentional with every aspect of these events,” she says. “Everyone gets to be included.”
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