The Delaware County Special Needs Prom Provides a Night to Remember

For Lynne Hatfield and Mindy Kemper, making memorable moments for individuals with special needs isn’t just about one night; it’s a year-round commitment.

The Delaware County Special Needs Prom (DCSNP) was launched to fill a community need, and it has grown immensely in the last decade.

A Mission Born from Love

Hatfield started the prom in 2014 with just $1,000 and a mission. Her son, Hayden, who has autism, thrived in school-based life-skills programs but experienced isolation after aging out at 21. Determined to create opportunities for him and others like him, Hatfield envisioned a space where individuals with special needs could experience joy, connection and inclusion. Kemper, who also has special-needs adult children, joined the effort the following year, adding her logistical expertise. Kemper was also able to secure nonprofit status in 2018.

More Than Just a Prom

Held each May, the DCSNP offers attendees a night of celebration where they are honored like royalty. This year’s event, scheduled for May 10 at the Horizon Convention Center in downtown Muncie, embraces the theme “A Night at the Oscars”, promising a glamorous evening full of glitter, glitz and red-carpet treatment.

Behind the scenes, the work is immense. Hatfield and Kemper coordinate decorations, secure funding and handle countless logistical details. “It never stops,” Kemper said. “People think it’s just a prom, but it’s so much more than that. We’re building a community for individuals who don’t always get to feel included.”

The Challenges of Creating Magic

The event comes with its share of challenges. Organizing the prom alone costs between $30,000 and $35,000 annually, while their total operational expenses exceed $50,000. They also host “Say Yes to the Dress” and “Dress to Impress” parties (scheduled for April 12 and 17 this year, respectively), where attendees can select formalwear in preparation for the big night. Finding the perfect sparkly dress or a dapper suit adds to the magic of the event.

Beyond the prom, the DCSNP hosts other gatherings, including a fall hoedown and a summer Splash Bash picnic, in an effort to make their special-needs guests feel included, have a little fun and feel less isolated – at least for a little while. The organization members are committed to keeping all these events free, but increasing costs are a concern.

Since the event has grown so much since its inception, amassing nearly 900 attendees last year, the only venue large enough is the Horizon Center. The site, however, doesn’t allow services like food (other than desserts) and music to be brought in, which places limitations on organizers and increases costs for items that were once donated.

Finding volunteers can be another hurdle. “We always get a great turnout for the dress party, but the suit party is another story,” Hatfield said. “These young men need help getting dressed, and it’s tough for us as women to be the ones assisting.” They also need volunteers for the other events throughout the year.

A Community of Support

The prom couldn’t survive without the generosity of local supporters and businesses like Jeremy Turner, owner of Charmed Cupcake Co.

For the past nine years, Turner has donated desserts for the event, even closing his shop for a week last year to prepare cheesecakes and cupcakes. Though he’d provided desserts free of charge for several years, he’d not seen the impact for himself until 2024, when he attended the event as a volunteer with his 5-year-old son. “I just can’t say enough about this event,” Turner said. “I get a little choked up. It’s so close to my heart. Seeing the joy on everyone’s face and experiencing that with my son was unforgettable.”

For Hatfield and Kemper, the work is deeply personal. “This community, our special needs community, can feel forgotten; it hurts,” Kemper said. But the moments of delight on prom night make it all worthwhile. When the music plays and the lights sparkle, a sense of belonging fills the room as parents look on with tear-filled eyes.

“When you see that joy, you remember why you do it,” Hatfield said, her voice thick with emotion.

How to Help

One doesn’t have to go much further than the DCSNP website to hear touching testimonials and pictorial evidence of the service they provide for the community. Donations are crucial to sustaining their efforts, volunteers are always needed, and local leaders can help by simply showing up and recognizing the importance of their work.

“This is about more than one night,” Hatfield said. “It’s about making our community a place where everyone feels seen, valued and loved.”

Visit delcospecialneedsprom.org to donate, volunteer or learn more.

Drop-off locations for dress and suit donations:

Muncie Com Net, 400 East Main Street

Indianapolis Movable Feast, 5143 East 65th Street