Alum Liam Doyle is using his political science degree from UL Lafayette to become an entrepreneur and advocate for people with disabilities.
Just after graduating in 2021, Liam established Accessibility in Motion (AIM), a first-of-its-kind consulting company in Lafayette that works with businesses and governments to improve their physical locations and customer service practices to better serve people with disabilities. HeСAPPs also working with local organizations to improve compliance and equity for people with disabilities.
Liam, who uses a wheelchair, got his start in advocacy after becoming increasingly frustrated with the difficulties of navigating the city in his wheelchair, including one particular utility pole located in the middle of a sidewalk СAPP but he decided to turn his frustration into something positive.
СAPPI heard for years that I would be a good advocate, and I heard for years that I had a natural sort of inclination for this line of work, but I wasnСAPPt ready,СAPP he said. СAPPI always would say, СAPPOh, somebody else is going to do it,СAPP and then nobody did СAPP and literally it was that one pole and thatСAPPs what kicked everything off. And you know what? Why not me?
"I went from saying СAPPnot meСAPP to 'why not me.СAPPСAPP
His political science degree and accompanying experience in local government has prepared him his new role leading Accessibility in Motion. While his company is still young, heСAPPs already developed important relationships with local leaders as a member of multiple local and campus organizations and from his time as the Disability Awareness Coordinator with Lafayette Consolidated Government.
СAPPAt the local level, thatСAPPs really where things are happening,СAPP he said.
СAPPNo disrespect to state and national, but local government is as exciting СAPP if not more exciting, in my opinion СAPP than your national stuff, because itСAPPs so tied to your community and your day-to-day life.СAPP
He also served as the professional advisor for , which promotes disability awareness, and established the Department of Political ScienceСAPPs Change Program, which connects students with state and local government officials, including lawyers, lobbyists, elected officials, and aides.
СAPPItСAPPs a really fun program, and I think IСAPPll leave a legacy of change and forward motion and progress,СAPP he said. СAPPThatСAPPs only going to benefit people who come after me, and IСAPPm totally on board with that. What I do today affects the people who come tomorrow. ThatСAPPs very much the same thing with government: it takes time today, but itСAPPs going to be better for tomorrow.СAPP
Liam also credits his professors for giving him the knowledge and the support he needed to start his new venture.
СAPPThe professors really take an interest in all of their students and I cannot say enough good things about every one of them,СAPP he said. СAPPIt made me a better government employee because I have a better understanding of how things work that I didnСAPPt have going in.СAPP
For future political science majors, LiamСAPPs advice is to believe in your ability to affect change.
СAPPI think the perception is that youСAPPre in college so you canСAPPt make a difference and your voice isnСAPPt being heard, and thatСAPPs not true,СAPP he said. СAPPThereСAPPs no, sort of, СAPPYou have to be this age.СAPP You just have to be ready for it and you have to allow yourself to want it and be willing to work for it. ThatСAPPs the biggest thing.
СAPPThere were times when I was first starting out that I absolutely wanted to quit and say, СAPPWhy am I doing this? No one is listening,СAPPСAPP he said. СAPPAnd you have take that on and say, СAPPThe right people are listeningСAPP and keep going. If you stop, then nothing gets done.СAPP
