Riley is a student at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he studies environmental management and ethics. He has a deep history of assisting accessibility initiatives throughout his tenure as a student, such as volunteering as a notetaker for the Center for Accessible Learning, delivering well-written notes for students who could not access the lectures due a range of disabilities. As a new student starting university with an invisible disability, Riley struggled with accessing experiences as a student, thus giving back to the programs that support others is essential to him.

As a student Senator at SFU, he shapes university governance through the Accessibility Committee and the Diverse Qualifications Adjudication Committee, using these roles to help students access the university equitably and benefit from its learning environment. Additionally, he is working on motions in the Simon Fraser University Senate to advance accessibility initiatives that place greater emphasis on invisible disabilities. Likewise, he is Chair of the Board at the Simon Fraser University newspaper, where he leads equity initiatives to foster inclusivity across the university’s student body. 

Being an IDA ambassador is important to me because making the invisible, invisible no more —whether it involves invisible disabilities or any other pressing issue—is essential to creating understanding across different backgrounds and building a prosperous, harmonious future

Fortunately, with support from others in the invisible disability community, Riley found accommodations and strategies that allowed him to continue pursuing his goals. He plans to pursue a master’s in environmental ethics and management after graduation and is passionate about issues related to the environment and disabilities.