I missed out on a lot of high school events as a disabled and chronically ill student, but I did attend both my junior prom and senior prom. Even though I didn’t have a diagnosis for Chiari Malformation until after I graduated, I knew that going to prom with chronic illness would mean that I would have to do a lot more planning than just what color dress I wanted to wear— my disability and chronic illness would influence every part of my prom experience in some capacity, and “doing it all” was not going to be an option. Here are my favorite tips for going to prom with chronic illness and low vision, based on my own experiences with Chiari Malformation (a neurological condition that is connected to my low vision/visual impairment diagnosis)
Promposal ideas for visually impaired
At my high school, junior prom and senior prom are two different events held several months apart. Some students would do a big public promposal (asking someone to prom) by holding up a poster/signs from a distance, presenting small gifts with written labels, or doing other things to catch the attention of the person they wanted to go with. I have low vision, and some of my fellow visually impaired friends and I have agreed that these highly visual gestures would not have been super meaningful, or could have even gone unnoticed!
For other students asking a visually impaired date to prom, here are a few promposal ideas for blind or low vision accessibility:
- Write a message in a Word document and send it via email or decorate a flash drive. The font size can be adjusted easily, and it can also be read by screen readers or a braille display
- Choose a high contrast greeting card that has an easy to read font. A large card isn’t necessarily easier to read/see since it takes up more space in someone’s central vision, though some individuals may find this easier to see
- Place a QR code with an audio message on the tag of a gift, or on top of a box.
- For students that have access to/read braille, write out the word prom by using the braille dots 1234, 1235, 135, and 134, with an optional 236 (question mark) at the end
- Present a tactile item with an interesting texture
- Choose flowers that are highly scented. If someone is allergic to real flowers, choose artificial flowers with an interesting shape or create DIY flowers that can be explored tactilely
My senior prom date asked me to prom by writing me a poem— they had asked me to review something they had written, as we would often share different creative writing projects with each other. I enlarged the text on my tablet and read every line, ending with “you’re the best friend that there can be, so would you go to prom with me?”
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions For Flowers
- Choosing Greeting Cards For Visually Impaired Recipients
- Choosing Stuffed Animals For Kids With Visual Impairment
- Creating Accessible Bulletin Boards For College Dorms
Picking out a prom outfit with chronic pain and sensory issues
Prom dress ideas
I wanted to wear a “traditional” long prom dress to both my junior and senior prom, but didn’t want to wear something with a bunch of tulle, layers, glitter, beads, or other heavy items. Here is my advice for choosing a prom dress with chronic pain and sensory issues:
- When trying on a dress, wear it for a few minutes and move around— sit up, sit down, walk around, move arms up and down, things like that. I had chosen a halter neck dress for my junior prom, and didn’t realize it aggravated my head pain until I was already at the dance!
- Looking for a dress with on-trend details that isn’t filled with embellishments? Go dress shopping for homecoming dresses, or choose a long dress advertised for homecoming. These tend to have fewer embellishments compared to prom and simpler designs while still being formal. Since long dresses aren’t super popular for homecoming where I live, I got my prom dress for $20!
- Only try on a few dresses when shopping and take breaks. Trying on a bunch of dresses and constantly stepping in/out of clothes can be exhausting
- Consider picking out a few dresses online to try on in-store, or order dresses online to try on at home with breaks in-between
- If needed, modify dresses to ensure that it’s easy to move around. My mom added ribbon straps to my strapless dress for example, and I wore a bolero over top.
- For students with sensory aversions, consider wearing a “base layer” under the prom dress to help with avoiding contact with fabric. For example, I wore leggings/tights under my prom dress so that I didn’t have to feel the fabric against my legs.
- Try a two-piece outfit with a formal skirt and top.
I didn’t have a specific color or style in mind for my prom dress before I went shopping, but I had spent time learning about different dress styles on Pinterest so I would know what I wanted to avoid.
Prom jewelry
In high school (and even today), I was known for loving earrings and experimenting with different styles and shapes. Here are my tips for choosing prom jewelry with chronic pain:
- Check the length and weight of items when shopping online
- To make a statement, consider lightweight but bold designs— for example, I wore oversized geometric wire earrings to junior prom
- Determine if the jewelry clasp will need to be modified. Magnetic clasps can be added to make it easier to wear necklaces, or chain extenders/adapters can be attached to make it easier to manipulate necklaces
- For students with sensory aversions, avoid items that make a lot of noise or that move a lot while walking.
- Avoid wearing jewelry that you have never worn before— if you don’t normally wear necklaces or bracelets for example, prom night may not be the best time to start!
- If possible, wear prom jewelry before the big day and ensure that it is not distracting or uncomfortable. I wore my prom earrings and necklace a few times to school to ensure that I could wear it without hyperfocusing/hyperfixating on the fact I was wearing jewelry.
- Consider pieces that can still be worn to future events and that won’t just be worn once.
My favorite high school accessories store has closed (RIP Charming Charlie), but I highly recommend checking out the Novica website from National Geographic to find unique and reasonably priced jewelry items that are also fair trade/ethically made.
Wearing a prom corsage
I told my senior prom date I didn’t want to wear a corsage because I was worried about crushing the flowers or getting annoyed with the wrist attachment, plus my date was allergic. My date surprised me when they came to pick me up with an artificial flower corsage that had a softer wrist attachment and sturdy artificial flowers that could withstand me bumping into things and wouldn’t trigger allergies. As an additional bonus, the corsage incorporated a specific type of flower called Veronica (my name).
Other prom accessories
I tried to wear 1.5-inch heels to junior prom, but I had to switch shoes after I got out of the restaurant we went to for dinner because I was struggling a lot with balancing and had to lean on my friend to orient myself. Even though a lot of girls would take their heels off and dance at prom without shoes on, I chose a pair of flats that I could keep on the whole time to help with balance. If I was going to prom today, I would grab a pair of Rothys metallic flats, which are comfortable for me to wear and offer several options under $100.
Since my prom dress didn’t have pockets, I had a clutch purse that had a crossbody strap attached. While the clutch matched my dress, I also made sure it was a color that didn’t blend into the light-colored tablecloths or chairs so I could find it easily. Like everyone else in our group, I wrote my name on a piece of tape inside of the purse to make it easier to identify.
Related links
- Writing Image Descriptions For Red Carpet Outfits
- Clothing Shopping Tips For Sensory Processing Issues
- Making Clothing Stores Accessible For Low Vision
- How I Use The Stylebook App With Low Vision
- My Favorite Shoes For Chiari Malformation
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions For Jewelry
- Choosing Jewelry With Chronic Pain
Choosing a hairstyle for prom
When going to prom with chronic illness, it can be challenging to do a full day of “getting ready” before the dance or to choose a hairstyle that won’t aggravate existing pain or sensory issues. Here are the strategies I used when choosing a hairstyle for prom:
- To browse for prom hair inspiration, I used the Pinterest app on my iPad to look at different ideas. The iPad app supports large print, has fewer pins at once on the screen, and can be viewed on an angled display, making it a great option for visually impaired users
- Choose hairstyles that won’t require too much hairspray or bobby pins, which can create pressure on the head or uncomfortable textures
- For Chiari Malformation: avoid elaborate updos or hairstyles that are “tight”/put pressure against the base of the skull. I find ponytails uncomfortable, so I chose a half-up hairstyle so that I still had other hair on my head as a “buffer”
- Instead of going to a salon, consider having your hair done at home. One of my younger friends actually did my prom hair, and I borrowed another friend’s curling iron so that I wouldn’t have to go sit in a loud/crowded salon.
- Take frequent breaks to avoid fatigue from sitting in one place the entire time. Even with the frequent breaks, it took my friend about 45 minutes start to finish to do my hair.
- Music or conversation can be a great distraction from the mild discomfort that can come from having hair done
- Sit down in a chair with a back when having hair done. One of my friends had hair grooming syncope, and if they had been standing at the time they would have missed prom!
ID: A half-up hairstyle featuring a braid in the center that has been twisted to resemble a rose, with the other half of the hair in relaxed curls that touch the shoulder. Veronica has medium length caramel brown hair.
What about prom makeup?
With sensory processing issues, I find putting on makeup to be extremely uncomfortable or even painful at times. For junior prom and senior prom, I didn’t wear any makeup or nail polish, so I can’t provide any advice from personal experience. However, there are a few ways to use assistive technology/accessibility tools with beauty products:
- Tactile packaging can be used for product identification, or organizing products
- Identify products by color, texture, and/or smell instead of relying exclusively on labels
- Use visual assistance applications to read a label, recognize a color, or scan product barcodes
- Incorporating low vision tools like magnified mirrors or adding additional lighting to a space
- Contact a Specialized Help partner through Be My Eyes like Ulta or Mary Kay, which can provide information on products
- Use specialty applications like Estee Lauder’s Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant
- Look for tips from a blind/low vision beauty blogger or content creator
- Browse for inspiration on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, which support options for pinch-to-zoom and often incorporate image descriptions to help provide context or clarification about what is in an image.
Related links
- Blind Barbie and Assistive Technology For Visual Impairment
- How I Use Pinterest For Studying In College
- Low Vision Assistive Technology For The Bathroom
- Nail Trimming and Low Vision: Adapted Nail Clippers
- How To Describe Dance Choreography Videos For Visually Impaired
Mapping out the venue
Prior to prom night, it can be helpful to know what the venue looks like and what to expect, especially since proms often have dim or dark lighting that can make it hard to see the space. Information to consider can include:
- Location of stairs and/or ramps
- Restroom location, including location for accessible restroom if needed
- Directions to venue from lobby
- Furniture that is outside of the ballroom/prom area— are there places to sit?
- Location for drop-off or accessible parking
- Food and snacks table
- Sensory-friendly spaces (more in a later section)
Some hotels, venues, and/or schools provide a social narrative (also known as a social story) that incorporates photos of the venue, descriptions of what staff uniforms look like, and other location information for things such as restrooms or sensory friendly spaces. These can be helpful for students with a wide array of disabilities or chronic illnesses, especially ones that are impacted by environmental triggers.
Related links
- Accessible Maps and Wayfinding Tools For Low Vision
- Tips For Visiting Aquariums With Low Vision
- Hotel Familiarization and Low Vision
Talking to my date about my accessibility needs
Both my junior and senior prom dates were very familiar with my chronic illness and accessibility needs, since they were both my best friends and knew how this condition affected me. That said, I did have to talk to them about how I would be going to prom with chronic illness and what I might need to manage triggers or minimize flares, such as:
- What to do if I start getting disoriented— can they help me get to a place where I can sit down either in the reception area or in the hallway?
- Wearing earplugs to muffle loud noises. One of my dates actually surprised me with a pair, and wore a pair as well to help with blocking out loud music!
- How to be a human guide and help with navigating a space.
- Asking them to hold me accountable for taking rest breaks to sit at the table or in the hallway— standing for long periods of time isn’t a great idea for me
- A reminder that I won’t notice them if they are waving at me and not saying anything, especially in a very loud room like prom
- Talking about my sensory processing issues— again, I would need to take breaks and stay in quiet areas at times to help “recharge” and avoid sensory overload
Related links
- How To Be An Effective Human Guide For People With Vision Loss
- How I Talk About Disability With New Friends
- Disability Accommodations For Fluctuating Eyesight
- Adapting Band Uniforms For Sensory Processing Issues
- Swing Dancing And Low Vision
Taking prom photos with photosensitivity
The majority of our prom photos were taken by parents or other chaperones, and we used the following strategies to make it easier to pose for prom photos with photosensitivity and balance issues:
- Take prom photos during the day or in well-lit environments to minimize exposure to flashing lights, which can be disorienting when taking multiple photos in a row
- Avoid standing on the edge of fountains or other locations that could lead to injury if someone lost their balance
- Consider using locations like stairs or ramps with a railing, which can help with balance, or take photos sitting down
Related links
- Taking Selfies With Low Vision
- How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
- School Pictures and Low Vision
Finding a sensory-friendly space
With my chronic illness and sensory issues, I really needed to find a place where I could avoid the flashing lights, crowds, and super loud music at prom. For me, this was a couch and hallway area about thirty feet from the ballroom, where I could still hear the music but I wasn’t in the middle of all of the activity. Some venues may have other sensory friendly spaces like a coat check room or a vacant area that can be used as a decompression space.
Honestly, my senior prom date and I spent a lot of time in this well-lit hallway area, dancing to music and singing along to songs without being in a dark room filled with tons of flashing lights. Many of our friends also came to hang out with us, and I never felt left out or like I was “missing out” since all of my favorite people were with me!
Related links
- Activity Ideas For Vision Breaks
- Disability and Classroom Accommodations For POTS
- School Cafeterias and Low Vision
- How I Play In GMU Green Machine/Pep Band With Low Vision
How I minimized my exposure to flashing lights
While I’ve never heard of a prom that didn’t contain some amount of strobe or flashing lights, some strategies that can help minimize exposure to flashing lights include:
- When arriving at the venue, introduce yourself to the event photographer and ask them not to take photos of you when possible. Since some photographers would walk right next to students and take a flash photo in their face at junior prom, I wanted to avoid surprise camera flashes as much as possible
- Avoiding the center of the dance floor or venue where there tends to be the most flashing lights
- Wear tinted glasses to minimize the brightness of lights
- Consider spending time in a well-lit area (or at least better-lit area) that has more ambient lights, or stay near the door to the hallway.
- Turn your back to the lights
- Consider dancing in a hallway or spending most of your time in a well-lit area
Related links
- How Tinted Glasses Help My Light Sensitivity
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights
- Managing Chronic Migraines in College
- Visiting Holiday Lights With Light Sensitivity
Other tips for going to prom with chronic illness
- Want to learn more about my brain condition? Read How I Explain My Brain With Chiari Malformation
- In the event of an emergency, make sure you have up-to-date medical information on your phone— learn more at How To Store Emergency Medical Information For Android and iOS
- I noticed that I had a lot more trouble moving around with low vision than usual because it was such a loud space— I write more about how my vision changes in Disability Accommodations For Fluctuating Eyesight
- Prom is often held before graduation, and I have a list of strategies for attending graduation at Disability Accommodations For Graduation
Published April 20, 2017. Updated January 2025