Carissa Price Dances In Her Wheelchair
Carissa Price, 16 in this photo (17 now) was diagnosed with meningococcal disease June 2, 1997. Within one day of showing symptoms, she was Life-Flighted to Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland, in critical condition. Carissa’s arms and legs were amputated, and the disease impaired her emotional and physical development as well.
Her stepmother, Sarah, describes Carissa’s intellectual age as about 7. Carissa is a junior at Milwaukie High School, in Milwaukie, Oregon, and although the school holds regular dances, Carissa’s stepmom prefers to take her to school functions where kids with physical or emotional challenges are less likely to be ignored. Or judged. Or embarrassed.
Earthstock has been held in Portland for 21 years now, thanks to Tony Nitz, an administrative clerk for Harrison Park K-8 school in Portland. Tony started Earthstock after Joseph Janson, a student with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, told him that most students in the special ed program at Madison High School (where Tony used to work) did not go to dances, because they felt uncomfortable dancing in a mainstream group. And sometimes they were made to feel uncomfortable. 