Sensory friendly debs ball for young people with additional needs
First of its kind event by South Tipperary Autism Support Group
A sensory friendly debs ball is being organised in Clonmel, for young people with additional needs.
The ball is being organised by the South Tipperary Autism Support Group. The event will take place in the Talbot Hotel Clonmel on August 14, with tickets priced at €50 for people aged 16 to 21. It will feature live music from The Dublin City Ramblers, with sound levels reduced to suit sensory needs.
Organiser and chairperson of the South Tipperary Autism Support Group, Catherine Kennedy, said the idea came from wanting to give young people with additional needs the same debs experience as their peers. She said it also came from a desire to give her son that same sense of closure and experience that other young people have at their debs.
Her son, Cormac (17), was diagnosed with autism at three and a half. Cormac has attended Scoil Chormaic in Cashel since preschool and next year he will be graduating. Cormac enjoys meeting people and interacting socially, and is described by his mother as being outgoing and bubbly. Outside of school, he has a strong interest in his 3D printer and takes great pride in caring for his pets, including a bearded dragon and a gecko. He is also a member of Clonmel Rowing Club, which he loves attending and being part of.
Ahead of the event, Ms Kennedy said Cormac is looking forward to getting dressed up in a suit and taking part in the occasion. She said he is slightly nervous about how the night will run, but is excited to attend and meet others. She said he is also looking forward to seeing friends from his school there, with organisers hoping the event will help young people make new connections in a supportive setting.
The sensory friendly debs ball is open to all young people with additional needs aged between 16 and 21. Ms Kennedy stated that numbers will be capped at between 130 and 150 attendees to ensure the event remains manageable. Organisers are also asking that a parent or guardian accompanies each young person, with a parents room available on the night for support and supervision.
The evening will begin with a red carpet entrance for all attendees, giving them a formal and celebratory arrival experience. This will be followed by a mocktail reception on arrival. Professional photographs will be taken during the event, with guests able to print their pictures on the night. A photo booth and photo mirror will also be available on the night. A meal will be served later in the evening.
A magician will provide additional entertainment during the event, while a mobile sensory unit will be available in the car park for anyone who needs a quiet space to regulate if things become overwhelming. Special needs assistants will also be present throughout the night to offer support where required.
Ms Kennedy said she is keeping numbers deliberately small to ensure the event runs smoothly and remains comfortable for all those attending. She said the Talbot Hotel in Clonmel has been very supportive and accommodating in the planning of the sensory friendly debs ball: “The Talbot have been amazing; they cannot do enough for us.”
“This is not something I have ever done. To the best of my knowledge this type of event has not been done before in Tipperary. I have not heard of any other ones being done in the rest of Ireland either.”