Riley Yates and her twin brother, Robert Antoine Yates Jr., were born three months premature. Robert died soon after birth. Riley was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and spent her first year in the hospital.
At age 5, Riley suffered a series of strokes and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a condition where excess fluid builds up within the brain, increasing pressure inside the skull. The condition left her using a wheelchair.
“My life changed that day,” said her mother, Eboney Clark Yates, of Starkville. “I can’t even remember what life was like before.
“When you have a special needs child, you begin to think how different their lives will be,” she continued. “I remember talking to my best friend about it, how Riley wouldn’t have proms or dances and so many other experiences that are a part of growing up. It breaks your heart. There’s nothing for them. My friend said, ‘Well, why don’t you do something yourself?’”
So she did.
In 2023, Yates planned and hosted the inaugural Special Needs Prom.
“I organized the whole thing in six weeks,” Yates said. “Honestly, I don’t know how I did it.”
The first three proms were held in October at The Gathering on Fire Station Road, but the event will officially switch to March in 2027. From the beginning, the prom clearly fulfilled a critical need for local children and their families.
“Counting the kids and parents, we had 150 people that first year. It was 200 the next year and 300 last year,” Yates said. “The community has been very supportive. One group provides escorts. We’ve had donations for the red carpet and T-shirts. A local dentist provided a free dental clinic, and Glo has donated, too.”
Yates noted it is sometimes difficult to tell who enjoys the event more – the children or their parents.
“You can tell the kids love it,” Yates said. “We go all out to make it special for them, with decorations, prom kings and queens and all the elements of a traditional prom. It’s also deeply meaningful for the families. We had one grandmother travel from Pennsylvania who cried through the whole event. She told us it was the best thing she had ever seen.”
Above all, the prom offers a safe space where families feel completely at ease.
“So many times, when you’re out somewhere with your child, you notice people’s stares or negative reactions,” Yates said. “You don’t have to worry about that here. It’s a no-judgment event. If an autistic child screams for 30 straight minutes, nobody cares. We all get it. That is part of parenting a special needs child.”
Riley is 13 years old. Eboney and her husband, Robert Sr., also have two younger children: Nicholas, 5, and Olivia, 4.
Deciding to expand their family was not an easy choice after everything Riley endured.
“We struggled with whether or not to have more children because of all Riley went through and how hard it was,” Yates said. “We have never for one moment considered Riley anything other than a blessing, but as a parent, you worry about the future.”
After many heartfelt conversations, the couple decided to try again.
“Riley’s twin brother passed away not long after they were born on March 24 at 5:55 p.m.,” Yates shared. “Years later, Nicholas was born at 5:55 p.m. on March 24 – eight years to the exact moment that Robert Jr. passed away. That was God’s way of telling me everything was going to be OK. In Nicholas, we were given back the son we had lost. I think every special needs family has those ‘God moments’ that are a part of the journey.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].