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Still, in honor of NDEAM, I want to share my honest résumé to remind everyone of the unspoken labor and skills a disabled person cannot share.

I'm not looking for a job. What's the point, really? I have truly done everything I can to find traditional work but there will always be a candidate who doesn't require accommodations. So, like many disabled people, I'm trying my hand at self employment.

But they don’t count the work it takes to exist in the system at all: managing appointments, treatments, medications, flare-ups. That’s a full-time job, too.

I don’t qualify for disability. Haven’t worked enough (yes, you need to "earn" work credits to qualify). I was denied supplemental income because “there’s probably a job out there that I could do.” And yeah, maybe there is.

Working for free is a privilege in its own way. But if it doesn’t lead anywhere, you end up being taken advantage of, often by people who understand the precariousness of your health and financial situation.

Another 4,400 hours were paid, which is meaningful, sure. But it doesn’t change the fact that nearly half of everything I’ve done was unpaid labor just to exist in a system that never accommodated me.

I’ve been underemployed my whole life. Nearly 3,300 hours of the work I’ve done has been unpaid. Yes, I tallied up the hours of volunteering, interning, mentoring, creating, and making things. I did it to build experience, prove I could do the work, and stay busy, even when no one would pay me.

I was diagnosed with my first chronic illness when I was 3 months old. The next 25 years were spent adding more, juggling the undiagnosed, the misdiagnosed, and ADHD that went unrecognized until later.

Employment, for people like me, is mostly out of our hands. Yet the system expects us to somehow figure it out ourselves. And figuring it out is usually more work than any actual job I’ve ever had.

But my state’s vocational rehab designated me as a Class 2 disability, meaning they officially recognize that I face significant barriers to work. What did they do for me? They sent one job posting. And that employer was unwilling to accommodate me.

An "honest resume" detailing the skills developed not just through professional work experience but through personal experiences with chronic illness.

An #HonestResume for National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Celebrating #NDEAM is great. Really. Having services to help disabled people find work is even better...

Altered Behaviors Why I can't get myself to write a good grant application.

...but I'm realizing that it's also in this essay. I'm sick of trying to create an image that is valuable. You might not learn anything from my essays. You may not feel compelled to hire me. But you might find them interesting all the same.

Read Partial Theories: open.substack.com/pub/partialt...

Altered Behaviors. Why I can't get myself to write a good grant application. partialtheories.substack.com

Partial Theories Issue #2 | Altered Behaviors

"Most of us are in a state of survival that necessitates curating our image, and the people who seem most successful are often just better at the performance."

Partial Theories doesn't provide value, and that's by design. I suppose it's in the name...

Science Remix Game Jam A game jam from 2025-09-25 to 2025-10-12 hosted by Data Bloom LLC. Transform science into something you can play. What if science could be felt, explored, and played from the comfort of your home? The Science Remix Ga...

I'm excited to help scientists turn their science into a game concept at No Coast Scicomm's Fun and Games Symposium today. But if you can't make it, you should still consider joining our game jam.

Applications close the 19th: itch.io/jam/science-...

Science Remix Game Jam A game jam from 2025-09-25 to 2025-10-12 hosted by Data Bloom LLC. Transform science into something you can play. What if science could be felt, explored, and played from the comfort of your home? The...

Programmers and artists needed for the Science Remix Game Jam! This #GameJam is a chance to team up with scientists and turn science into something people can play. Open to #GameDev of all experience levels, applications are due September 19th.

For more information: itch.io/jam/science-...

Risograph-style illustration of a plankton and diatom with the words Data Bloom

I'm building Data Bloom, a creative studio and community reimagining how we engage with science. Right now, I’m looking for a few test projects. If you’re a science-focused lab, NGO, or nonprofit without much budget, this is your chance to test out creative design at low-to-no cost. #scicomm

The goal? Real examples, real impact, proof that this approach works. The focus right now is on game development, narrative design, and online events. I'm only taking on a select few projects in this capacity, don't hesitate reach out if you're interested in these services!

Risograph-style illustration of a plankton and diatom with the words Data Bloom

I'm building Data Bloom, a creative studio and community reimagining how we engage with science. Right now, I’m looking for a few test projects. If you’re a science-focused lab, NGO, or nonprofit without much budget, this is your chance to test out creative design at low-to-no cost. #scicomm

Thanks for sharing!

Science Remix Game Jam A game jam from 2025-09-25 to 2025-10-12 hosted by Data Bloom LLC. Transform science into something you can play. What if science could be felt, explored, and played from the comfort of your home? The...

The jam runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 11, 2025 and is open to all experience levels. No team? No problem. We're offering team matching.

Help us make science something people can feel, click, and explore. To learn more and to apply, visit the link. Apps close on Sept. 19.

itch.io/jam/science-...

Science belongs outside of PDFs and expensive textbooks. It belongs in stories, puzzles, and worlds you can explore. The Science Remix Game Jam is bringing together scientists, educators, science communicators, and game developers to remix real science into games. Join us! #gamedev #scicomm

Hey, I'm V. I'm a writer, #gamedev, #scicomm (er), and creative strategist working at the intersection of science and games. I'll probably post a bit about my work and opportunities related to the projects and events I'm involved with. Not sure what else beyond that, I guess we'll find out 🤷

Hi Dani, I have some privacy issues that prevents me from sharing most of my work. But I did recently start back up in science communication and engagement with my new organization: www.databloom.club I'd be happy to share my work privately if this isn't adequate for being added to the science feed.

Anadromous: What salmon biology, game dev collisions, and a failed leadership attempt taught me about transformation. Tucked between the gravel of the riverbed rest the nearly glowing eggs of the salmon. Further upstream, the female salmon uses here tail to clear a shallow depression, displacing rocks and...from partialtheories.substack.com

Issue #1 of Partial Theories

If you miss reading things written by real people, I've got something you might like. Partial Theories is my new writing project where I share what's been gnawing at my brain...usually perspectives on science or creativity.

Curious? open.substack.com/pub/partialt...

Had a blast speaking on No Coast SciComm's Fun and Games in #SciComm panel last week! It's always a pleasure to talk about my two passions and I feel so strongly that games are a great way to reach people, whether you have science to share or a story to tell. 🎮 🔬