All adults with disabilities from the Norman area are invited to a prom this evening at the University of Oklahoma.
The prom at 6 p.m. will feature snacks and dancing -- formal attire is optional-- and the theme for decorations is "It's a Jungle Out There." The crowd at this prom, however, with be a little different from most high school proms.
"A lot of it is really similar, except the age is really different," said Heather Tidmore, an OU graduate student in special education who is also the president of OU's Student Council for Exceptional Children.
SCEC is a local student chapter of the national Council for Exceptional Children. Its purpose is to bring together preservice educators to learn more about individuals with disabilities and special education. There are about 20 students in the group, but the planning for the prom has been conducted almost entirely by the four executive officers, Tidmore said.
SCEC is hosting the prom for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities with funds coming from the OU Student Association, Housing and Food Services, the Zarrow Institute and individual donors, Tidmore said. She also said SCEC has received a lot of support from the College of Education for the prom and from faculty advisor Joyce Brandes.
"We are very excited about this prom," Brandes said in a press release. "The students are working hard to make it a special night for everyone who attends."
The event will be 6-9 p.m. in the Regents and Associates Rooms of the Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave.
"We would like to make this an annual event, and we've actually had 150 people confirmed," Tidmore said. About 50 of those are student volunteers who will stay about five hours, the rest are individuals with disabilities and their families, she said.
Admission is free for adults with disabilities. Tickets for others will be $12 each and can be purchased at the door with cash or check. Each ticket will buy entrance to the prom, a T-shirt and refreshments.
Among Friends, an activity center in Norman for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, was chosen as the representative group of the prom this year. Tidmore said when OU students chose the idea of having a prom, they were unaware that Among Friends had hosted a Winter Dance this year with great success.
"They were so excited to do another dance," Tidmore said of the adults who participate in Among Friends.
Carla Romeo, program manager at Among Friends, said those who are in her program are looking forward to the prom tonight.
"A lot of them will be coming in for the prom ... because many of them didn't go to their high school prom because they didn't feel comfortable or whatever reason," Romeo said.
Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com
Local news
Prom tonight for residents with disabilities
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