Ordinary people occasionally perform extraordinary deeds that restore our faith in humanity.
Why not share this heartfelt Facebook post from a few years ago that still brings tears to my eyes? It concerns a father who remembers a time when a girl unexpectedly dropped by his office and asked for his permission to ask his autistic child to prom.
The interests of kids their age and those with specific disabilities frequently overlap. Finding a date for a school dance is a priority for every 17-year-old, but if no one agrees, it can be devastating to one’s self-esteem.
If a teen goes out alone, they run the risk of being socially destroyed, and not finding a partner puts their self-confidence in serious jeopardy. Some children, especially those with special needs like autism, are oversensitive and unable to handle everything.
Mike Larson, the father in this story, decided to take notes as his autistic son Jon prepared for his high school prom. The entire account was then posted by him on Facebook, where millions of people liked and shared it. Mike captioned a picture of his son Jon and his prom date Maddi. To see it, watch the video below. “He’s a junior with autism. Senior Maddi asked my mother and I if she could go to the prom with Jon a month ago. Their school is where I teach. “Maddi had met Jon through a school organization that promotes friendships between special needs children and typical children,” Mike continued.
Being a junior, she added, it is also his prom. “I think he ought to be allowed to leave. I assured her that we would be thrilled if he decided to accompany her. Jon would be Maddi’s guest at her senior prom because she wanted him to have the time of his life. After doing some research, she learned that orange was Jon’s preferred shade, enabling her to buy an orange dress.
He had a favorite restaurant that served chicken fingers, French fries, and chocolate milk, and she had also reserved a table for them there, along with another couple. Prior to inviting Jon to the dance, Maddi wanted to consult his father. According to a quote from Mike Larson in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “It was a fairly breathtaking experience for me.”.
He praised the article receiving over a million views and the widespread distribution of his writing in 2019. Several people have inquired about Jon’s health. He’s still at home, doing well, and is content. Mike also said that Maddi is now married and is “embarrassed” by all the attention; she didn’t think it was all that significant. Thank you to everyone for their kind wishes. Following his post, Mike remarked. Jon’s father had many different scenarios in his head after receiving his autism diagnosis more than 16 years ago.
According to Mike Larson, “I never imagined it would happen for our family, and not only did it happen, it happened in such a wonderful way. “And having it keep improving people’s lives is more than I could have dreamed of. It will be remembered as one of our best memories. Knowing that there are still good people in the world is encouraging. This young lady’s consideration for others by approaching his parents first speaks volumes about her. I hope they were immortalized in many pictures so we could remember that special day.
