Interview with F. Darrell Mattingly, Jr., June 29, 2022

THOMPSON: Hello, my name is Mack Thompson, and today I'm interviewing Darrell Mattingly for the Disabled in Kentucky Oral History Project remotely over Zoom. The date is June 29, 2022. Darrell, I'm happy you're here.

MATTINGLY, JR.: Hi.

THOMPSON: To start things off, would you feel comfortable sharing a little bit about yourself.

MATTINGLY, JR.: I would. I am a male (??) and cerebral palsy (??), and I am living on my own (??) too.

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing that. So would you--so you--would you feel comfortable sharing how you, like, self-describe

your relationship to disability and cerebral palsy, I think is what you said? Like, do you identify as being disabled or having a disability, or do you just identify with having cerebral palsy, or is there something else that you use? Like, what terminology? What do you feel comfortable with?

MATTINGLY, JR.: I'm--well, I'm--I am disabled. I have cerebral palsy. So whatever my people might (??) -----------(??) my way (??).

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing. So I would love to hear more about, like, your disability work. Like, I know you work with the Human Development Institute and the Hart-Supported Living Council and the Kentucky Statewide Independent Living Council. I'd love to hear more about what

you do, what you're passionate about in the field.

MATTINGLY, JR.: I am--I have a -----------(??)---------- too, and I will be available (??) -----------(??) and I will--I am (??). I am on the Cerebral Palsy Board. We are -----------(??)---------- findings may have (??) -----------(??) and I am--I'm on the Statewide Independent Living Council. I'm a free -----------(??) independent living community (??). I work -----------(??) living board for independent place (??), and I am

the -----------(??) and then--and that the -----------(??).

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing. So have you been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic at all?

MATTINGLY, JR.: I have. It has--I am at-risk, and I'm on the--I haven't been out -----------(??), and with the way -----------(??) is, and I will--I am at-risk when (??) being out and about.

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing that. So how have you found--is

Lexington accessible to you? And, like, how has it been different than--I believe you've lived in some other places in Kentucky. How has that, like, differed based on where you are living? Or whatever.

MATTINGLY, JR.: It is not a place that I've lived for-- (??) but that helped me and by that, (??) -----------(??)---------- but being in independent living (??) -----------(??) helped me within my--it's a lot better than in -----------(??) other place. (??)

THOMPSON: Right. I'm sorry that--I'm sorry. I'm--yeah, I--

is there anything that, like, you would change about the city?

MATTINGLY, JR.: I would. I would make public transportation more accessible (??) because if I ever want to take wheels, -----------(??) let them have (??)--they make it (??) -----------(??) for our head (??). There has been a (??) two-hour window to pick me up. Wait for them and then (??) -----------(??) at them. That is -----------(??)----------.

THOMPSON: Yeah, I've seen the public transportation situation's--(laughs)--definitely not great, so thank you for sharing that. So how

has, like, accessibility been in the workplace, if you feel comfortable sharing?

MATTINGLY, JR.: Well, I work -----------(??)----------. They let me talk (??), but I already know -----------(??)----------. But that's not most places (??).

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing that. I'm glad that is good for you, but that's definitely true that many places have a lot to--(laughs)--improve upon.

MATTINGLY, JR.: It does.

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing that with me. So do you have any, like, knowledge of, like, social and government resources for people with disabilities? And, like, how

feel about those? Like, are the processes accessible? Are they actually, like, helpful? How could that improve?

MATTINGLY, JR.: I have many and many resources available, but the big problem is most people don't know about them. In my work (??) and my -----------(??), I have to know about them, but the big problem is I don't think we advertise that we -----------(??) the way we ought to. That is why I--we always take the time to talk to people or ask them if they're able to talk to them (??) -----------(??) giving them what

they need when they need it would help them, and they will help the -----------(??).

THOMPSON: Yeah, that is a huge barrier of, like--if all these amazing things are out here and people aren't aware of them.

MATTINGLY, JR.: No.

THOMPSON: And so, like, do you have, like, advice on, like, how we can get the word out more? Like, I know you mentioned advertising, but the, like--how--just, like, having these conversations, like, how could we, like, make them more available on, like, a wider level? Like, more--like, the knowledge of them available?

MATTINGLY, JR.: The number one, we -----------(??)---------- in between, in your area (??) -----------(??)---------- and always be willing to ask if they -----------(??) what I mean (??),

and don't take no for an answer. If they tell you no, have a conversation (??) -----------(??) may be happening (??), but there are people waiting on--we have a bunch of people willing to help, willing to take (??) -----------(??)---------- partner with them. It can't be (??)--oh, it would be -----------(??). It means that we are -----------(??). That don't happen (??). Talk to the people while

we're out (??). And take them to the clinic (??), to the town (??), to the -----------(??) because if we don't know about them, we cannot -----------(??)----------.

THOMPSON: That's true.

MATTINGLY, JR.: That is why I always tell people, "Email me." I may not know them, but I will find the answer for them. It may not be the best answer, but it will be an answer, and we will know what we need to do for that person (??).

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing that. That's very important and very true, and

yeah, thank you. I was wondering if you could talk more about navigating the spheres outside of, like, this disability work with your cerebral palsy. Like, I know that you are--you do martial arts and a bunch of other things like that, and I would love to hear about navigating that, if you'd share some.

MATTINGLY, JR.: My main--if I want to do something, I will figure out a way to do it. But most (??) have to be willing because I -----------(??) my own. I mean, don't ever become complacent. Don't ever become happy with where you are. Always be willing to go out and -----------(??)

for the near (??) opportunities. It--even (??) I will help people. I don't feel very small (??) every time, but having to -----------(??), not even -----------(??) opportunities, go on (??), and the opportunity to -----------(??) what I need to to become the person that we want to be, not the person that we are.

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing that. That was really powerful advice, and yeah, thank you. So

what do you wish that people knew more about, about being disabled or having a disability, namely, like, I guess you can talk specifically about cerebral palsy and your own situation, or you can talk more broad, if you feel you would prefer to do that. Just whatever and is -----------(??).

MATTINGLY, JR.: I am -----------(??) and won't claim (??) that I -----------(??). What bothers me the most is people claim they were -----------(??)---------- and not -----------(??)---------- happen to -----------(??) by me (??). No, no, don't do that. -----------(??)----------

part of -----------(??). We are all born with certain attributes (??). One attribute that I was born with was CP (??), and I never (??)--it's not part of them. It's not -----------(??) them. It is -----------(??) what it is. The part of them -----------(??) of them or -----------(??) them. -----------(??)---------- what they're made out of (??). No--and I want people to know it really -----------(??). I want people to know that -----------(??) and not be afraid. It never helps me (??)

reminding (??) what the -----------(??), and never be (??) -----------(??). I mean, it's not mean (??). People are -----------(??). Some people will be out there (??) -----------(??) their ability. Some people won't be--I'm not--I mean (??) I want people to ask me or -----------(??) ask--I--that is an opportunity for me to make it real (??) for them. And one example is me and my -----------(??), and I need help

getting off of a ramp. I will ask people. Some people don't mind helping me. Some people will -----------(??). Oh, I've never thought about that. I mean, I don't think that they're mean to me -----------(??) or not--or being mean in any way. -----------(??) they don't have a problem -----------(??). And I -----------(??) not ever take the -----------(??) to talk to people no matter what the problem (??), no matter what the situation is. Mostly I will -----------(??)----------.

And with that -----------(??), we're able to not be embarrassed, and I tell people that we are all in the same -----------(??) we have to be in (??). We may not always see eye to eye, but we're able to have an understanding, and we're -----------(??) accept this (??), and that is what I--for me, I bet most people want. They don't want to be the odd man out or the odd person out. They want to be part of the group (??).

THOMPSON: That's so true.

Thank you for sharing that perspective. So do you--would you have any advice that you'd like to share for someone who recently became disabled, maybe, or was diagnosed with a disability and is trying to, like, navigate that?

MATTINGLY, JR.: I mean, what I have been (??) in my -----------(??), the main thing that I think (??) that they ought to know is not all -----------(??) it is -----------(??). Take it day by day. Be -----------(??) the team (??) -----------(??), whether that be family, people that walk with (??), friends, a neighbor, be -----------(??). It will take

time. Don't let the--don't -----------(??) if you have a bad day. We all have a bad day, disabled or not. We all have good days. We all have bad days, always, always. Today is the day that I have. How can I improve (??) -----------(??) in any way (??).

THOMPSON: Thank you for sharing that. Is there anything that you would like to add that we haven't discussed yet, or that you would like to talk about in more detail?

MATTINGLY, JR.: No, but I'm always open if people have--if people want

to talk, I'm always open to that. I think there ain't no (??) topics ought to be taboo. I think we all ought to be able to talk about whatever we need to talk about.

THOMPSON: So true. Thank you for sharing that. Would you be comfortable if I ended this recording now?

MATTINGLY, JR.: I would be.

THOMPSON: Thank you so much for sharing this with me today. It's very important information, and it was amazing talking to you. Thank you.

MATTINGLY, JR.: I hope it helped.

THOMPSON: Great. Thank you.

[End of interview.]