Ryleigh Ingraham: Vision-Minded

Despite having a rare eye condition, this RBC student has excelled in her skates and in her books.

By Sterling Giles

Ryleigh Ingraham, a first-year student at Richard Bland College of William & Mary (RBC), is one the nation’s top roller skaters. Her father, an avid skater himself, encouraged her to pursue the sport.

“I fell in love with it and kept coming to the skating rink more and more,” Ingraham said. “And over 10 years later, here we are.”

Despite her love for skating, Ingraham’s path to becoming the talented athlete she is today came with its fair share of challenges.

In a sport predicated on precision and balance, Ingraham has had to work twice as hard because of her rare condition—ocular albinism. The genetic disorder effects the eyes, making her extremely sensitive to light and subject to frequent migraines. But despite her ailment, she’s excelled in skating, even competing on national stages.

“I’ve never been natural at it,” Ingraham said. “I’ve had to work through the balance issues and everything else.

“To be where I am today, I’m definitely proud of myself.”

Prior to attending RBC, Ingraham had been home schooled since the seventh grade. The College’s intimately sized classrooms principally attracted her to the institution. Since she’s been here, Ingraham is very appreciative of how accommodating her professors have been of her needs. They provide her with presentations ahead of her classes, as well as write larger and more legibly, among other accessibility requests.

Upon graduation from RBC, Ingraham plans to study anesthesiology or genetics. With the latter, she hopes to help people like her get answers to their rare disorders and diseases.