Please don’t refer to Carrissa Johnson as a ‘she-ro,’ a Super Mom or an inspiration. This woman-on-wheels is not ungrateful for praise or positive attention, but when asked what makes her days easier, her answer is simple and direct: “I like to be allowed to live life, do the same things as other people, with nothing getting in my way.”
Now that she has a year-old son, Carrissa is accustomed to the routines of most working parents. Recently, for example, when her son was sick, she drove to the pharmacy, hoisted little William from his car seat, went in and got the prescription, came out, fastened the baby in properly, and then got into the van and was ready to drive away.
A tap on the window stopped her. A man who had seen her managing with her son wanted to tell her how much he admired her. The stranger went on describe how amazing she was, expressing ardent praise for her courage.
While she is used to that kind of reaction, she admits that sometimes it makes her a little impatient.
“I don’t want to be someone’s poster child,” she says.
Ironically, Carrissa was a poster child for Easter Seals when she was little. The exact cause of her disability is unknown, but she was born three months premature, and at six months she was stricken with spinal meningitis that nearly killed her. Because of Spastic Cerebral Palsy, she has been in a chair all her life.
At school, the Fancy Farm native attended regular classes. Her mother, a most ardent advocate, stepped up and spoke out whenever it was necessary to ensure Carrissa’s inclusion. She also sheltered her daughter from some of the negatives and encouraged her positive attitude.
“Mom taught me I could do anything anyone else does,” Carrissa declares.
Carrissa also learned to field questions graciously because they often present teachable moments, and she is a born teacher. “If people are curious,” she remarked, “I’m open. It’s the way I’m asked that makes a difference.”
Making a difference is important in every aspect of Carrissa’s life. Currently, as Independent Living Specialist at Murray’s Center for Accessible Living, she is committed to improving the community’s response to inclusion for people with disabilities, so they become integral participants in all aspects of local life.
Recently, with assistance from students in Murray State University’s Department of Social Work, the Center is leading a project called “Accessible Murray.” Participating businesses and organizations are filling out surveys about their accessibility. The idea is to give recognition to organizations that are already doing the right thing, and helping them to identify and correct areas that need improvement.
For those with limited experience including people with disabilities in day-to-day life, there is sometimes a lack of understanding about how little things can make a big difference. For instance, parking too close to an accessible space can make it impossible for a person in a chair to get into her own vehicle. Indoors, public rest rooms are not always accessible in spite of signs that indicate they are. A door jamb can be a barrier, as well as incorrectly mounted grab bars. Even a couple of inches can make a difference.
“Accessible Murray” is helping participants identify where they are meeting the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act, and where changes are needed for compliance. The idea is to reward and showcase organizations that are headed in the right direction to ensure accessibility.
Carrissa points out that the ADA, which was signed into law twenty-six years ago, is simply a matter of doing the right thing. “These are not entitlements,” she declares.
At the end of our interview this “mother on wheels” circles back to a key concept: “There’s nothing special about me, and I’m not asking for anything special,” she says. “When things are good, I don’t think about having a disability, but when things are not good, I notice my disability and my chair. I think it’s like that for a lot of people.”
For more information about the Center for Accessible Living log on to www.calky.org. A guide to disability rights laws is available at www.ada.gov.
Constance Alexander is a columnist, award-winning poet and playwright, and President of INTEXCommuications in Murray, Ky. She can be reached at constancealexander@twc.com. Or visit her website.
