National Leadership Program, Fall 2018
Virginia Campbell was a Communications Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program. RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for and with people with disabilities. RespectAbility’s focus on Hollywood inclusion attracted Campbell to the program. As a filmmaker and writer with a disability, she is aware of how important it is to hear authentic stories from many different perspectives. She also is aware of how little the perspective of people with disabilities is shared. Her mission in life is to amplify the stories of people with disabilities from all communities so that disability is celebrated as part of the diversity of human experience.
Campbell recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in English. As an undergraduate, she was involved with student-run publications on campus and served as the writing editor for the award-winning yearbook, The Illio. She was also a Virtual Student Foreign Service intern for the U.S. Department of State. In between classes, she co-wrote and produced the independent horror-comedy films, Butcher the Bakers and Grace’s Room.
Even though the previous paragraphs make her sound busy, Campbell is a big believer in the benefits of doing nothing, especially outside, and she frequently does just that in her off hours. She loves parks almost as much as Leslie Knope, the main character of Parks and Rec, one of Campbell’s most-loved TV shows. Her current favorite parks are El Morro National Monument in New Mexico, which has awe-inspiring views, and Amerson River Park in Macon, Georgia, which features large, open grounds and an accessible playground.
Campbell wrote 11 pieces during the 2018 Fall Fellowship. Check them out on our website:
- Gail Williamson, Agent, Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award from Media Access Awards
(October 30, 2018) - Born This Way Cast Honors Their Casting Directors (November 8, 2018)
- Bunim/Murray Casting Directors Honored at Media Access Awards (November 8, 2018)
- A Quiet Place Filmmakers Honored at Media Access Awards (November 8, 2018)
- Short Film about Playground Inclusion wins International Acclaim (December 6, 2018)
She also wrote six pieces for The Respectability Report:
- Disability Supporter Warren Keeps Massachusetts Seat in U.S. Senate (November 7, 2018)
- Disability Supporter Sisolak Becomes Nevada’s Next Governor (November 7, 2018)
- Disability Supporter Rosen Wins Nevada Seat in U.S. Senate Race (November 7, 2018)
- Disability Supporter Jessica Ramos Wins NYS Senate District 13 (November 8, 2018)
- Disability Supporter Gottfried Re-Elected to NYS Assembly District 75 (November 8, 2018)
- Disability Advocates Rosen and Sisolak Win Elections (November 8, 2018)