HDI shares Kentuckian’s impact on disability rights movement with documentary screening

July is Disability Pride Month — a time to honor and celebrate people whose identities include the demographic of disability.

This month, the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI) is sharing the story of one Kentuckian who has spent his life advocating for others with disability.

HDI will host an online screening of the documentary “If I Can’t Do It, It Ain’t Worth Doing” at 1 p.m. Friday, July 26. It’s the story of Arthur Campbell Jr., who fought for accessible public transportation in Louisville in the ’80s and continues to be an activist for disability rights.

Campbell was born with cerebral palsy in a cabin in Kentucky and lived “in virtual isolation” for the first 38 years of his life. He is a wheelchair user and is open about the challenges he’s faced navigating the world around him.

After the screening, there will be a discussion with Campbell. Anyone interested in attending is asked to register online here.

“Mr. Campbell’s story is important to share this month, but even more important to keep in mind year-round. Accessible transportation isn’t a convenience — it’s a lifeline that empowers people with disabilities to live, work and thrive in our communities,” said Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Ph.D., HDI executive director.

In Kentucky, roughly one in three adults has a disability. And, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, nearly three million trips per year on the state’s transit bus system are taken by people who are elderly or have disabilities.

Thanks to Campbell’s tenacity, all of Louisville’s public transportation buses were wheelchair accessible by 1990. The fight didn’t stop there. In protesting for change for people with disabilities, Campbell said he’s been arrested nearly 30 times in 12 states.

In 2015, he was honored with the first-ever Lifetime Advocacy Award from the Statewide Council for Vocational Rehabilitation, a partner of the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

In his acceptance speech, Campbell said he endured additional challenges because of his respect for those facing similar struggles.

“In fact, because of this respect and love, I decided to dedicate the rest of my life as a civil rights worker, working in the disability fields, helping to empower and gain my dear disabled brothers and sisters and my human and civil rights with dignity and respect,” said Campbell, who is now the namesake of the award.

The screening of “If I Can’t Do It, It Ain’t Worth Doing” also coincides with the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act being signed into law.

“We look forward to hearing from Mr. Campbell and bringing his unique perspective and unwavering dedication to the disability rights movement into a thoughtful conversation among the UK community,” said Sheppard-Jones.

This event is co-sponsored with 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 Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities and Kentucky Protection & Advocacy.

About the Human Development Institute

The Human Development Institute (HDI) is a unit of the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Kentucky and Kentucky’s University Center on Disability. HDI’s mission is to advance efforts that build inclusive communities, address inequities and improve the lives of all people who experience disability across the lifespan.

HDI also serves as the statewide technical assistance center supporting Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary 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, as well as a resource to other Kentucky colleges and universities interested in establishing a program.