18-04-2025
Prom for students with special needs gives youths a chance to dress up and shine
Victor Matts last attended a prom when he was a troubled 17-year-old in Chicago. 'I went to prom with the intent to steal. I wasn't there to dance or celebrate,' Matts, now 65, reflected with a hint of regret. 'I was a completely different person back then.'
Fast forward to last Friday night and the vibrant lights of Washington High School illuminated a momentous occasion: Matts was celebrating his daughter Jennefer's first prom. 'She didn't have a date, so I told her, 'Baby, you don't have to worry because I will gladly be your date,'' Matts said.
Planning for this big night began weeks in advance. Matts made sure everything was color-coordinated, even driving to Gurnee, Illinois, to find the perfect palace green gown for Jennefer. He complemented it with a matching green suit. with his daughter's look completed with a corsage of green, white, and yellow roses.
"I wanted this to be one of the best nights of her life — a night she and I would never forget. This is what prom is all about," Matts said.
Send us your pictures: Submit your 2025 prom photos for our statewide gallery
Jennefer, 14, and her dad were among the 200 guests and numerous volunteers celebrating the 22nd annual prom for students with special needs April 11. While most students attend MPS, the prom attracts students from all over Wisconsin and has grown into a reunion of sorts with many attendees returning to the dance after graduating.
On the dance floor, instead of trying to learn the trendy TikTok dances like "Uptown, Downtown," which has more than 1.8 million likes, Matts chose to embrace the rhythm of his past with the faithful two-step. 'I may not know all those new dances, but I do what I can when I get out there,' he said. 'I'm just trying to ensure this night is unforgettable for my baby girl. This is my first real prom, too.'
Jennefer's radiant smile said it all as they twirled on a Wicked-themed dance floor, featuring life-sized characters like Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. In a heartwarming moment, Jennefer paused mid-dance, wrapped her arms around her dad, and pulled him into a warm hug on the bustling dance floor, solidifying the special bond they shared on this memorable night.
The prom was established when MPS had separate schools for students with disabilities. Staff members recognized that their students yearned for a magical event celebrating them — a prom where they could dress up and shine alongside their peers.
For the past two decades, Washington High School has hosted the prom, and this beloved tradition has flourished thanks to the planning and support of teachers, students, and various community groups.
Earl Ingram Jr., a radio personality and a member of the group Voices of the Elders, arrived 8 hours before the first guest arrived. He helped set up props and worked to transform the cafeteria into 'The Emerald City of Oz.'
'I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here," Ingram said. "When you see the joy on these young people's faces and the excitement in their parents, there is nothing like it."
This event holds special significance for Ingram, who has been raising Jahmaree, his son with autism, since he was 2 years old. Jahmaree has been attending the event for the last 12 years. Now 23, he eagerly looks forward to the prom each year. When Jahmaree arrived, he quickly spotted many of his friends, and they all headed to the dance floor to support one another.
The event resembled any typical prom you might imagine. The DJ played upbeat music, creating an energetic atmosphere. Groups of girls gathered on the side, dancing and taking selfies and videos to share on Instagram. Several of the guys gathered in groups doing their cool dances. When popular songs played, everyone rushed to the dance floor to showcase the latest TikTok dances.
Additionally, the event featured a "glam room," where volunteers offered nail and makeup services to the girls and provided suits for young men who wanted to dress up for the occasion.
Weeks before the prom, someone donated eight prom dresses for girls in need to choose from. Cherelle Harris, 32, who runs the Pearl Label in West Allis, met with the girls and made alterations to the dresses at no charge.
"Just watching them in the dresses and seeing them enjoy their night means everything," Harris said.
Amid all the excitement, Victor Matts and his daughter danced to nearly every song. When they took a break, Jennefer was all smiles while her dad caught his breath.
Matts said his daughter doesn't speak much to people she doesn't know. He believes that, despite her special needs, she deserves to be treated like any other child. He emphasized the importance of highlighting events like the prom, especially in light of the Trump administration's moves on special needs programs.
Earlier this month, 23 Democratic senators wrote a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, warning that drastic funding reductions to the U.S. Department of Education and a proposed transfer of special education programs to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would harm students with disabilities.
'We have to keep shining a light on the positives of those with special needs and fight for them," he said. "I plan to fight for my daughter because she deserves to be treated like everyone else."
Heidi Cumbajin, the transition coordinator at Washington, said planning for 'A Night in Emerald City' began in January when students chose the theme, inspired by the movies and musicals "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked."
Many volunteers came together to ensure the event would be a night to remember. Numerous special moments unfolded that might go unnoticed if one isn't paying attention.
For instance, Willie Jude II, the new executive director of the MPS Foundation, helped a young man tie his tie at the side of the dance floor. There was also a touching moment when a young lady embraced the woman who altered her dress, and the smile on another young lady's face as she admired her freshly done nails. Additionally, Kyle Witty, who provided some animated props, climbed a ladder to ensure the lights on one of his props were turned on.
Cumbajin noted that as the event grew, students from the culinary arts program at four schools — Washington, Vincent, Bay View, and Madison — prepared the meals for the occasion. The menu featured wicked wild wings, mac and cheese, stuffed chicken breast, rice pilaf, roasted vegetables, berry tort, cornbread, and garlic bread.
Before I left for the night, Jennefer pulled her father back onto the dance floor to dance for the rest of the evening. While I'm sure Matts' feet will be sore after all the dancing, it was a night he and his daughter will never forget.
Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@ follow him on X @jecausey.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Volunteers make magic for hundreds at MPS special needs prom | Opinion
