You SHALL go to the ball! Cork mum is organising a debs ball tailored for autistic people
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Bright lights and loud noises can make ‘grads’ or ‘debs’ nights intimidating for young people who have autism, so one Cork mother has organised a sensory appropriate event for her son.
Last year, David Hickey, from Frankfield, told his mother, Theresa, that he would love to attend a ball.
But Theresa knew that her now 19-year-old son would find it hard to enjoy certain aspects of such an event.
“So, then I thought, ‘Why don’t we do one ourselves?’ So we started organising a ball," Theresa said.
"The whole [Gold Tie Debutante] ball is geared towards autistic people. The deputy CEO of AsIAm [the autism charity] is helping me.
“She went down to the hotel [where the event will be held] to check it out. There is going to be a video [visual guide for attendees] before the night and a map laid out of where everything is.
“You can choose where you want to sit. Do you want to be near the DJ or away from the DJ? That sort of thing.
A photographer will be present at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Little Island, Cork on September 8 for the ball.
However, there is no pressure — young people can choose whether to have their picture taken on the night.
Theresa says attendees can also wear whatever they want. There isn’t a dress code.
Ultimately, she stresses the night is about putting young people at ease and creating an atmosphere which best suits their needs.
“It is up to them what they wear. You don’t have to come all dressed up. David is going to get dressed up because he likes that kind of stuff, but other people can come in whatever they want.
“We have also asked what people would like to eat and if they don’t want to eat the food in the hotel they can bring their own. We are doing buffet-style, so they can choose what they like,” she said.
David and his friends are hugely looking forward to the ball, which features DJ Stevie G and DJ Jerry.
"He has tried on suits in town with a gold tie, because it’s the gold-tie debs. He loves clothes and getting dressed up.”
Around 25 young people are to attend the event. However, Theresa is hoping that other teenagers will express interest before the big night.
“I’d really like around 40 to 50 to go, for the atmosphere of it all. A lot of kids in mainstream secondary school, or people like David in a special class in a mainstream school, won’t go to their debs.
“Debs nights can be quite daunting and people feel they have to go with somebody. With this, you don’t have to bring anybody. It is being geared around them,” she said.
Theresa is a special-needs assistant and her fellow SNA friends are coming to help on the night. She said that the ball is a significant milestone in promoting inclusivity and empowerment for young individuals on the autism spectrum. “This event is all about celebrating inclusion and giving young autistic adults the opportunity to have a fantastic debs night just like everyone else.”
Tickets for the autism-friendly debutante ball are available online at ‘The Gold Tie Debs’ on Eventbrite.
• For information, visit TheGoldTieDebsBall on Instagram and also on Facebook, or email Theresa at TheGoldTieDebs@gmail.com.