Blind and autistic 19-year-old had given up on attending senior prom—then a special invite turned everything around

Proms are those events for which high schoolers and college students eagerly wait for the whole year. It is a core memory students make that cements their bond for the years to come. Unfortunately for Carlos Colon from Haverhill High School, he was very close to giving up on this dream. The 19-year-old is blind and has autism and thought no one would be willing to go with him to prom, per Boston 25. When he figured it would be better just to give up trying altogether, a special invite ensured he got the prom of a lifetime. 

The boy wasn’t willing to go to prom without a date. As any other teenager, he too, wanted an authentic experience to cherish. When nothing was working out, Colon’s sister, Brianna, who is his twin, stepped in and offered to go with her brother. Their history has brought them together and created a close-knit bond through the years. Colon became blind soon after his birth due to detached retinas from the high-fibrillation oxygen. He also had brain bleeding and it was a tough few months in the hospital after his birth. Soon, he was also diagnosed as autistic.

The sibling duo weren't as healthy as expected but paved through and survived their challenging journey at the hospital. “They were born at 24 weeks, only a pound and a half. Of course, they were very sick when they were born, so basically ounces,” their mum recalled. Having gone through struggles together since birth, Brianna decided to take things up a notch and join her brother by becoming his partner at prom. Having not witnessed the experience herself as she completed freshman year during the pandemic, there was all the more reason to partake in the event.

“Brianna approached me and was like why shouldn’t he go? Just because he’s blind and autistic doesn’t mean he can’t go to a prom,” their mom noted. In a video shared on X by Chris Flanagan, the duo are seen having the time of their lives on the dancefloor at prom. Without a care in the world, they danced together and enjoyed every moment, leaving no room for regret. Colon donned a suit and most charmingly danced himself out while Brianna was all dolled up in her vibrant gown, making the experience a memorable one. The video also captured the siblings dancing along with friends, making this a milestone of a celebration.

Brianna shared a thoughtful reason why she planned to ask her brother to prom. “Just because he’s blind and autistic doesn’t mean he can’t have fun. I’m glad he got to experience it and he danced a lot so I’m really glad he went and all that,” she remarked. Brianna is glad to have accompanied her brother as well as enjoyed the idea of prom, which she never thought she’d witness after the pandemic. “I’m lucky to have experienced it this time with him and somebody that I love very much,” she said. The duo got their first of a dance and a prom and its two dreams come true most wholesomely.