TUCKERTON – At 35 years old, Donald Campbell has earned a law degree, directs a nonprofit, and advocates for people with disabilities. Yet, he lacks the ability to take a pen to paper to jot down his thoughts. At most, he can sign his name because he can barely use a writing utensil.
Born with cerebral palsy due to a rare pregnancy complication known as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), Campbell’s fine motor skills are impaired, and his gait is off. He is limited to walking short distances and uses a wheelchair for longer stretches. Still, he has never let one bit of that – or anything else – stand in his way.
“I always wanted to do what everybody else was doing,” Campbell said. “I wanted to live on my own and just have a life. That’s what drove me.”
Growing up with early intervention, Campbell was mainstreamed in the public school system and had the help of an aide who acted as his scribe. While he faced obstacles, especially in subjects like math that required writing out steps – he developed a strong ability to communicate. “When you have a disability, you really have no choice but to learn how to work with people,” Campbell said.
Becoming His Best Self
After high school, Campbell studied history at Atlantic Cape Community College before earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from Stockton University. By then, Campbell no longer needed an aide, only a note-taker and occasional scribes for exams. He relied on a mix of keyboard use and self-dictation to complete assignments. Determined to make an impact, Campbell went on to earn his law degree from Widener University in 2016.
“Law school is no joke,” Campbell admitted. “It was stressful, but I learned a lot.”
While studying for the bar exam, Campbell looked for opportunities to get involved in his community. After delivering a speech about his law school journey, he casually mentioned that he was looking for a job. That moment led him to a nonprofit, Atlantic Center for Independent Living, Inc., where he first served on the board before quickly rising to the role of director. The organization, which helps people with disabilities gain independence, needed leadership – and Campbell’s lived experience made him the perfect fit.
Around the same time he took on his director role, Campbell confronted another critical aspect of his identity. Though he had known for a long time that he wasn’t attracted to women, it took him until his late 20s or early 30s to say the words: “I’m gay.”
“At first, I didn’t have the vocabulary for it,” he recalled. “You tell yourself things – maybe you just haven’t found the right person. But at some point, I realized I needed to be honest with myself.”
Coming out was a gradual process. He first told close friends, who were supportive. “The more you say it, the easier it gets,” Campbell said. “Once you realize people love you for who you are, it helps.”
For the last three years, Campbell has lived in Tuckerton, which he finds quite peaceful and charming. Like many aspects of his life, Campbell’s adaptation to his surroundings initially created some challenges. For one, there was the ability to navigate transportation.
Campbell once attempted to learn how to drive but ultimately decided against it. “It’s the first and only time I ever just gave in to my disability,” he said. “I didn’t feel safe, and I didn’t want to hurt anyone. You need to be able to react quickly when driving, and I worried that my reaction time wasn’t fast enough.”
Rather than letting the inability to drive limit him, Campbell found a working solution. He uses ride-sharing services to get around and considers himself fortunate to have a job that allows him to afford them. “Some people with disabilities do drive, but for me, it wasn’t the right choice,” he said. “I’ve learned that there’s always another way.”
Advocating For Others
Campbell is deeply passionate about accessibility, employment, and housing for people with disabilities. He also believes inclusion benefits everyone.
“Even if I can’t convince you to care about disability rights because it’s the right thing to do, there’s a big self-interest case for it,” he said. “If you live long enough, you’re going to get a disability, or someone you love will. It can happen at any time.”
He also pushes back against language that frames disabilities as something to be ignored or euphemized. “I don’t have ‘special needs,’” he said. “I have human needs. I don’t want people to ignore my disability – I want them to accept that it’s a part of who I am.”
Despite the challenges, Campbell remains focused on making a difference. “I want to keep growing my center. I want to help as many people as possible,” he said.
One of the things that strikes Campbell with the center’s clients is the desperation he hears from people who seek services. Many are confused and isolated, and some may even be newly disabled. They have a hard time navigating systems and looking for programs. Some call because they are starved for connections and frustrated with the state of their lives or that of a loved one with a disability in need of help.
“We teach people life skills,” said Campbell. “We also assist them in resolving conflicts when they don’t feel like they’re being accommodated.”
Campbell said that two of the most common misconceptions are that people with disabilities don’t want to work or that they don’t want to live independently. The third is that people with disabilities are all the same.
“The truth is people with disabilities experience all the problems you do – but worse,” Campbell shared. “If you have a disability, you’re more likely to be homeless, to be unemployed, or to be sick. You’re more likely to be affected by climate change, gun violence, or police brutality. It’s even worse if you’re a minority with a disability.”
As a nonprofit, the center is limited to how far they can take their advocacy. Top priorities are housing, employment and transportation. “We’re always fighting for more resources,” Campbell stated. He is also concerned about proposed cuts to Medicaid. “People don’t realize how much Medicaid impacts everything for people with disabilities.”
Campbell’s advice to younger people with disabilities? “Live your life. Don’t wait for the world to be perfect. Don’t let anything stop you from pursuing the life you want.”
