2022-2023 Wise Webinar Series

Fighting For Employment Opportunities and Community Inclusion: Escape From Controls and Segregation

This presentation is part of the Wise series of trainings titled “Learning from our best teachers, individuals with disabilities". Mary Matthews is an Advocate/Activist from Chicago Illinois. Ashleigh Nightengale is a Licensed Social Worker/ Advocate/Community Organizer also from Chicago Illinois. Both are members of the Institutional Rescue and Recovery Coalition (IRRC) that is advocating for the rights of Individuals in Nursing homes, as well as moving them back in the community. They will share their stories around advocacy and working to find career opportunities for themselves and others. The webinar is again moderated by Chuy Campuzano, a Consultant/Trainer/Podcaster from Chicago Illinois.

Learning Objectives

Gain knowledge around systems that institutionalize, and how people have been able to leave institutional settings
Experience some powerful stories from Mary and Ashleigh around their fight to get individuals in Nursing Homes basic human rights.
Learn how to develop a person-centered approach in overcoming barriers to meaningful employment for individuals.
Gain some insight on how to support individuals in finding a career and a valued place in their communities.

Mary Matthews

I am born and raised in Huntington, WV and went to college outside Baltimore, MD at Goucher College. Spent 25 years working in technology in project management within the Financial Industry. Was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at age 9, so have been diabetic for 50 years.

Have suffered from depression since I was a child. I lost a job when the company I worked for went into bankruptcy and finding another job was very difficult with the market so flooded. I went into a deep depression and struggled to function day to day. I eventually went into foreclosure and was evicted. The social worker that came in with the eviction team and was able to have me placed in a nursing home. This kept me from being homeless.

I went into the nursing home excited because I would have water, electricity and heat that was lacking in the home I was evicted from in the month of January in Chicago, IL. It was a shock for me to experience the total loss of control of my life that would happen by being in the nursing home. Have witnessed and experienced mild, moderate, and severe abuse and retaliation.

Spent 1 year as Resident Council President and accepted the responsibility of advocating for other residents. The facility staff and management did not like to be questioned and pushed to respect resident rights. I joined Institutional Rescue and Recovery Institution (IRRC) at the beginning of my Resident Council Presidency. I was surprised to learn that what I had experienced was common across Long Term Care (LTC) Facilities. I have become quite passionate about resident rights including a resident’s right to live in the least restrictive environment they choose. I am now on the Steering Committee for IRRC and facilitate the week Resident’s Meeting that gives Residents and former Residents to share experiences and problem solve ways to handle different situations.

Ashleigh Nighengale

As a biracial female with cerebral palsy, enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities has always been a priority for me. At a very young age, I was hired to join projects that focused on the improved mobility of people like me. I developed a drive to succeed and was determined to subvert the stereotype of a person with cerebral palsy. I wanted people with mobility struggles to feel the same way I do, to see their ability and situation as an asset, not a deficit. This idea became the focus of my future goals.
While I received my Bachelor's Degree in History at Roosevelt University, I became a Peer Health Navigator as a part of a disability research study with The University of Illinois at Chicago. I saw how the healthcare system is not equipped to care for people with disabilities. People with physical or cognitive limitations need more support and are not getting it. I returned to school and received my Master's Degree in Social Work, determined to find a way to help people with limitations receive more support from the healthcare system. This fact solidified my desire to receive a second Master's Degree in Grant Writing Management and Program Evaluation. If I could write a grant that can support a program to help individuals with special needs to be more independent, it would help them gain a better quality of life. These two educational experiences allowed me the knowledge to examine social service programs used by people with unique needs.

Jesus Chuy Campuzano

Jesus Chuy Campuzano was born and raised in Chicago Illinois where he still resides. Growing up in Chicago he went through the special education system. After graduating he never received services from the Illinois Council of Developmental Disabilities as he was unaware and uninterested in long term services. Chuy was ashamed and felt isolated with his disability. Fortunately, he joined Access Living, a Disability Rights Organization in 2008 where he met Curtis Harris. He began to learn about individuals with all types of disabilities and to accept them. This led to Chuy becoming a leader in the advocacy community.

Chuy is a member of the Going Home Coalition and chairs the leadership committee. As a member of the WOW team Chuy plans and co-hosts the meetings and created the WOW Facebook Group. Chuy is a regular presenter at the Speak Up Speak Out Summit. His project “Dis Life …An historical perspective of Lives that matter” has allowed him to conduct numerous interviews with individuals in the disability community. Chuy believes that getting to know individuals and their strengths will lead to better outcomes in life. Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity!