Sunday, June 15, 2025
The Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County values giving its patients, many of who face physical limitations, access to typical life experiences. For the students enrolled into the Children’s Learning Center, that includes a classic prom night.
Learning center Principal Kevin Loughlin oversees the nonprofit’s special education school.
“One of the things that we like to do here is to provide an education that is similar to every other school,” he said. “We want to make sure (students) can experience some of the same things that you will see at a typical high school or junior high school.”
The school prioritizes socialization as a key value, according to Loughlin.
“Socialization is one of the biggest things that determines success, and we want our students to be accepted into typical society and show that they can contribute,” he said.
The association’s annual prom night was made possible in partnership with John F. Kennedy High School and its Advanced Science Research Program. 17 students from the program came to the learning center’s fourth prom night on May 22.
“Our kids like the exposure,” Loughlin said. “They’ve actually gone over to that high school and visited some of the classes over here, and the JFK kids love coming over here, working with our kids and enjoying hanging out with them.”
For the prom, the theme of the prom was world travel — the lobby was decorated to be an airport terminal, and the hallways were lined with world maps and photos of popular tourist destinations.
Jesus Bonilla Alvarado, a 12-year-old student at the learning center, enjoyed getting a chance to celebrate the end of the school year with new friends.
“I was looking forward to today,” he said. “I’m feeling great, it’s very fun having everyone.”
The JFK Advanced Science Research Program is a selective mentorship program for sophomores, juniors and seniors, allowing them to complete graduate level research.
Barbi Frank, an advanced science research teacher at JFK, brought the students together for this year’s program.
“We’re here today for the whole purpose of having a great time and making their prom something that they’ll remember forever,” she said. “I think it’s really important for both our students and their students to really have the opportunity to work together and develop these relationships.”
“Today, we saw one student who has always been in a wheelchair, and today they’re on the dance floor and they’re standing,” she said. “The smiles on everyone’s faces really are spectacular.”
Mike Harrington, superintendent of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, expressed pride in the student’s conduct.
“I’m so proud of Miss Frank and her ASR students, who are some of those talented students to ever walk our halls,” he said. “Today, I’ve never seen so much enjoyment, with them taking part at the prom, and it’s really a heartening day.”
Maxwell Frank, an alumni of the ASR program, has a history of involvement with the CLC, such as its Cerebral Palsy Trivia Challenge, which raises funds for the school.
Maxwell and other ASR students have participated in the REACH Challenge, a competition held by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association to take on projects that help members of their communities with assistive technology, such as modified school desks, prototype wheelchairs and more.
“You help someone in your community by building an adaptive product to help them with their day to day needs,” he said. “That was the first time for me truly building one of these adaptive products for school. Over time of building all these adaptive products, we even built close relationships.
“We don’t do it for just the competition,” he added. “We do it because we truly love this place.”
Ellie Gelman, JFK senior and research student, describes the rigorous program as a place to strive for excellence.
“You try new things and surround yourself with people who make you better,” she said. “It’s good to be in uncomfortable positions if they’re going to help you in the future — always take that leap.”
