From his hospital bed, Joaquin Campos prayed to God he would survive the life threatening injuries he sustained in a car accident. More than anything he wanted to stay alive for his wife and young sons. But he also wanted to live in order to assist others in need. He says, "I turned my life over to God to use me where I could be of help to others."

After two years, Joaquin left the hospital quite incapacitated. At first, he had no idea where his new life would take him, but remained alert for every sign where he could join others in changing lives for the better. His own personal struggle of learning to use a wheelchair helped him understand the need of people with disabilities. In a wheelchair, he now needed a vehicle to transport his chair, modifications in his a house and an accessible job to support his family. Going down the street to the store in his wheelchair, Joaquin confronted the difficulty of dealing with curbs and curb cuts. Until recently, many streets in the Oakland Fruitvale District were not accessible. Furthermore, buildings did not have ramps and some streets didn't have sidewalks. Buses came right up to the curb, endangering people who were waiting for them. Joaquin began to realize that many disabled Latinos were restricted due to lack of access. There began Joaquin's local activism.

He organized community agencies and together they lobbied the City of Oakland to put curb cuts in, making all Fruitvale area streets wheelchair accessible. However, that alone did not solve the problem of accessibility. Joaquin became aware that some people with disabilities could not leave their home because they didn't have wheelchairs. He contacted churches, the Center for Independent Living (CIL), and other community agencies to provide the equipment for individuals and personally delivered the equipment.

As District 5 Representative in Oakland, Joaquin considers the needs of many groups in the community. He has been inspired by the need to provide his sons with productive extracurricular activities. In the absence of youth community centers, Joaquin organized a marching band, La Banda de Guerra, that is funded by the Oakland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The program allows students from local schools to develop musical skills in the band. When the marching band is scheduled to play in a parade, at a school assembly, community cultural event or funeral for a dignitary, they can be heard rehearsing in local parks or community halls. The youth meet twice a week to practice. Joaquin's community leadership helps keep young people off the streets.

In February 2004, the Sacramento Assistive Technology Network honored Joaquin Campos with the Assistive Technology Award for his "passionate political advocacy as an elected board member of District 5 in Fruitvale."