At 19th special needs prom, in style of clothes, dancing, anything goes

YOUNGSTOWN

It was their night. For teens with special needs from 31 schools in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties, the prom Friday

evening at St. Mary’s Assumption Social Center was the place to be.

The dance floor was packed with dancers in all styles of clothes from tennis shoes to tuxes, from short to long dresses and shoes to bare feet.

Anything went as far as dancing, stylewise, also, as long as you just got out there and did it.

It was the 19th Special Needs Prom, hosted by Canfield High School. And it was in high gear.

Everyone, yes everyone, was out there on the floor — oh wait — Adia Joy, 17, was watching from an aisle between the tables with a shy grin on her face.

Why wasn’t she dancing? Wasn’t she ready to go out there?

Uh, no, she said, laughing.

She was determined to wait for her favorite song. It had to be “Problem” by Ariana Grande before she would put her feet to the floor.

Adia was one of 14 teens from the Trumbull County Career and Technical Center who were there, all as friends, to enjoy the prom.

They are all in class together, though there were a few dates “here and there,” explained their teacher, Kathy O’Brien.

It was a major event for them, she said, to come to the prom, which attracted about 300 people.

Read more about this fun event in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.