19-year-old Haverhill woman takes her special needs twin brother to his prom

HAVERHILL, Mass. — Carlos Colon had the time of his life at his high school prom.

The 19-year-old, who just graduated from Haverhill High School, is blind and has autism.

“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,” said Carlos’ twin sister, Brianna.

Carlos didn’t have a date to his senior prom, so Brianna, who just finished her freshman year at Bryant College, asked him if she could be his date.

Brianna’s senior prom was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, so she was finally able to attend one.

“I’m lucky to have experienced it this time with him and somebody that I love very much,” she said.

Their mother, Jomay Colon, thought it was a great idea.

“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,” she said.

The twins have always been incredibly close and their mom said they’re incredibly lucky to be alive.

Carlos became blind shortly after birth when his retinas became detached from the high fibrillation oxygen.

He also had a brain bleed and was in the hospital for five months.

“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,” Jomary Colon said.

The twins not only survived, but thrived and on this special night they burned up the dance floor.

Carlos just graduated from Haverhill High School, but he will stay at the school until he’s 22 to remain in the Life Skills Program.

He’s hoping to eventually attend the Perkins School For The Blind.

If you have a Positively Massachusetts story idea, contact Boston25 anchor Chris Flanagan at ChrisFlanaganBoston25@gmail.com.

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