LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 19, 2024) — July is Disability Pride Month, a time to honor and celebrate people who identify as people with disabilities.
This month, the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI) will present the story of one Kentucky resident who has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of others with disabilities.
HDI will host an online screening of the documentary “If I Can’t Do It, It Ain’t Worth Doing” on Friday, July 26th at 1pm, which tells the story of Arthur Campbell Jr., who fought for better public transportation in Louisville in the ’80s and continues to work as a disability rights activist today.
Born in a cabin in Kentucky with cerebral palsy, Campbell spent the first 38 years of his life in “virtual isolation”. He uses a wheelchair and has spoken openly about the challenges he faced navigating the world around him.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with Campbell – those interested in attending can register online here.
“Campbell’s story is important to share this month, but even more important to remember all year long: accessible transportation is not just a convenience, it’s a lifeline that empowers people with disabilities to live, work and thrive in their communities,” said HDI Executive Director Dr. Cathy Sheppard Jones.
Nearly one in three Kentucky adults has a disability, and seniors and people with disabilities take nearly three million trips on the state’s public bus system each year, according to the Kentucky Department of Transportation.
Thanks to Campbell’s tenacity, all of Louisville’s public transportation buses were wheelchair accessible by 1990. The fight didn’t end there: Campbell says he was arrested nearly 30 times in 12 states while protesting for reforms for people with disabilities.
In 2015, he received the inaugural Lifetime Advocacy Award from the State Vocational Rehabilitation Council, a partner of the Kentucky Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
In his acceptance speech, Campbell said he endured additional hardships out of respect for those facing similar hardships.
“Indeed, it is this respect and love that has motivated me to dedicate the rest of my life to being a civil rights activist, working in the disability field and helping to ensure that the human and civil rights of my precious disabled brothers and sisters and mine are recognized and empowered with dignity and respect,” said Campbell, for whom the award is named.
The screening of “If I Can’t Do It, It’s Not Worth Doing” coincides with the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“We look forward to hearing from Campbell and bringing his unique perspective and unwavering commitment to the disability rights movement to thoughtful conversations within the UK community,” Shepherd-Jones said.
The event is co-sponsored by UK HealthCare, UK College of Education, UK College of Health Sciences, UK College of Social Work, UK Office for Institutional Diversity, UK Disability Employee Affinity Group, Kentucky Department of Health and Family Services, Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Kentucky Office of Protection and Advocacy.
About the Human Development Institute
The Human Development Institute (HDI) is a division of the University of Kentucky Office of the Vice President for Research and the University of Kentucky Disability Center. HDI’s mission is to advance efforts to build inclusive communities, address inequities, and improve the lives of all people who experience disabilities across the lifespan.
HDI also serves as a statewide technical assistance center supporting inclusive transition and higher education programs for students with intellectual disabilities at the University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University and Bluegrass Community & Technical College, and serves as a resource to other Kentucky universities interested in establishing programs.