I did have a lot of problems with the disability plan that I had bought into, and that’s what was upsetting, because I kept thinking, “I’ve never used this plan. It was there for me just in case, and here I can’t even use it.”

This summer I was delighted to catch up with my longtime friend and former study buddy Rise Riyo. Rise has a seven-year-old daughter, and at the time of our conversation had freshly come off of Molecular Flipbook. She’s now an R&D Programmer at NanoImaging Services, Inc.

I loved reminiscing about our student days studying digital animation before universities had programs in it. But I am especially thankful for her brave insights around tougher topics like going back to work when you’re not well yet and helping colleagues and bosses understand a disability. Her message of building supportive communities around yourself before having a kid, because you never know what might happen, is one I wholeheartedly endorse.

Note: at the beginning, you’ll hear that we had a little visitor and a false start. I left it in because it’s the reality of how I produce this show–I fit the work in around my family life, and it doesn’t always go according to plan. It was too good an illustration of my personal tug-of-war for me to edit out!—kr

Download the MP3: Episode 8: Rise Riyo

Notes

Rise Riyo
riseriyo on Twitter
Molecular Flipbook
Janet Iwasa’s TED Talk

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