iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I still can't vote (a right that only citizens have access to), but I encourage folks to be critical with theirs. Use the tool below to review all of the referendum ballot questions. knowthenine.ca

knowthenine.ca

Stay in Canada. No to the Nine.

Use Alberta's Voice's interactive ballot guide to review all 10 referendum ballots before you vote.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

We had everything going for us during our (accelerated) immigration process, and there were still multiple points at which we could have been refused. Think about this in the context of the "immigrate the right way" rhetoric. What if the "right way" is unobtainable for most?

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

In that 611 days, we spent $5,413 CAD ($3,793 USD) on application fees, medical exams, background checks, credential evals, etc. This is outside of the $19,001 CAD we were forced to prove we had for immigration settlement, even though we had been living in the country over a year.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

There is plenty of room for error in the 166 pages of documentation we submitted (I counted). Each time we messed up, the immigration agent could have denied our application; they are permitted to do so. Instead, we were given chances to rectify. Others aren't so lucky.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

We came into the process with immense privilege. We are both healthcare workers who speak English as a first language. I had a job offer in Canada and an employer willing to help us with the process. However, even with these privileges, we still messed up on our application...TWICE.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Our permanent residence application took 6 months to process. Highlights of the requirements included: FBI checks, English language tests, educational credential evaluations, previous employer verification letters (nine across the two of us), and countless scans of passports and IDs.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Our temp work permits to our permanent residence was 611 days. This is considered fast by immigration standards. A 'yes' on Alberta Referendum Question 2 would make it so that we wouldn't have had public healthcare the entire time we've lived, worked, and paid taxes here in Alberta.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

It can also include work that usually requires a university degree, including in education, management, etc. Our specific Express Entry pathway was a stream of the Federal Skilled Worker designated for healthcare workers to help curb the healthcare crisis here in Canada.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

To set the stage: we immigrated under what is called the "Express Entry" pathway. This is an accelerated immigration stream for people the government of Canada deems "skilled workers." This can include folks in trade sectors, like construction, manufacturing, chefs and cooks, etc.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

We recently became permanent residents in Canada, and I want to talk about what "the right way" to immigrate can look like. Especially given the current anti-immigration referendum on the docket here in my home province of Alberta.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I’d send you one but it’s like impossible to send food from Canada to the U.S. right now 🥲

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

It’s really not that bad. It tastes like a cream soda with a light butterscotch flavor and a hint of a mac & cheese powder 🤔

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Update: I have it in my possession.

A hand holding a crisp can of KD cream soda.

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Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Counterpoint: It would be great if people read some of the things that have been written about AI surveillance of workers! press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/hilke... www.cambridge.org/core/books/q... www.ucpress.edu/books/uberla... jacobin.com/2026/09/amaz...

press.princeton.edu

Data Driven

A behind-the-scenes look at how digital surveillance is affecting the trucking way of life

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I’m on it — will report back if I can find it 😎

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

In about a month, Albertans will be asked to vote on separatist referendum questions. Question 3 asks if people like me — immigrants who aren’t permanent residents — should be entitled to accessing the healthcare system we pay into. I can’t vote, but you can! Please do. knowthenine.ca#question-1

knowthenine.ca

Stay in Canada. No to the Nine.

Use Alberta's Voice's interactive ballot guide to review all 10 referendum ballots before you vote.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I am pleased to present my new Article Collection, "Autistic Flourishing: Beyond the Deficit Model". This Collection is now live in Cogent Mental Health, a gold open access journal currently waiving Article Processing Charges. The deadline to submit is June 4th, 2027. #psychscisky #autismresearch

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I think what’s equally confusing is that these dress codes are never enforced. Like, are they going to kick you out of the engagement party if you’re dressed neither smart nor casual? No. Then why the dress codes?

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Canada has some conflicting priorities in science right now with the development of Impact+ alongside a significant reduction in international students visas + post graduation work permits

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

If you can take anything away from this absolute travesty in my home town, it's that NIPSCO (the only power company in the area) is a dogshit corrupt company that only cares about it's bottom line. www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

Frustration builds in US city struggling without power for 12 days

In the town of Gary, where a third of residents live in poverty, people say they have been living in "survival mode".

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Gary is my hometown. Some of my friends and family are going on 11 days with no power. Please donate if you can, but also contact the people in charge and ask them why they aren’t doing anything. Indiana District 1 www.govtrack.us/congress/mem...

govtrack.us

Indiana Senators, Representatives, and Congressional District Maps - GovTrack.us

Find your U.S. Congress senators and representative in Indiana using a map.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The ways he writes and speaks about his expertise slightly changes depending on the venue, from what I’ve seen. Consistent is the “philosophy of biology,” but he’s also claimed moral psychology, values & ethics in science, and political science as his areas of research. Quite a diffuse beam.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I got through about an hour of a YouTube podcaster interviewing him until I had to turn it off because I couldn’t handle the bile in my throat anymore. Truly doing nothing but further cementing how dorky scientific racism is.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Good luck! If you plan to stay, feel free to DM with questions.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Alberta — which adds to the irony as both of our professions are listed as provincial “high need” as well.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

There’s a lot of takes on the Jarson Arday situation, but my only contribution is wondering how many Black professors the “race realist” Nathan Cofnas had to obsessively hold under a magnifying glass until he was able to write that substack piece.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Living here, experiencing the concomitant paucity of healthcare professionals and the difficulty of becoming a registered healthcare professional, makes my eyes water with frustration.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I can’t imagine what the process looks like for healthcare professionals educated outside of North America, which I’ve heard exponentially complicates this.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Canada says it wants more healthcare professionals, but my wife and I — healthcare professionals working in “high need” professions — have had substantial difficulty being registered by Canadian healthcare authorities using our U.S. backgrounds.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I hear regular and vehement opposition to the AI status quo from my grad students. Especially interesting to me are students who deride other students for using genAI, likening it to cheapening their degree.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Come earn some CEs with us at 1pm! I’ll be talking about teaching undergrad psych of religion and spirituality courses. #apa2026

A screenshot of a schedule reads: “How do we teach the psychology of religion and spirituality?” in room 103B at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Come see me in Hall D to talk about superheroes! #apa2026

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

After many critical conversations about the use of generative AI in practice, my psych assessment students presented me with the greatest gift at the end of our summer class.

White text on the front of a black tshirt reads: “your brain called…”

White text on the back of a black tshirt reads: “It wants its job back #NoAIOffload”

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Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.

Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

This month is the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and it reminds me that the ADA could not be passed today. It probably couldn’t get a vote in committee today.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I think it's individual topics in the tech space: AI, Crypto, Smart-glasses. A block list for anyone tech critical, maybe?

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I don't always get added to appropriate lists, but I rightly belong in this one. Although I think this list has a bit of an overfitting problem. VR? No problem there. Pervert glasses? BIG problem there. Shoutout to the guy on my dorm floor who was shamed into retiring his Google Glass.

A screenshot of a DM announcing being added to a moderation list entitled "Hates People Who Use AI Crypto Smart-glassess NFTs Bitcoin or VR"

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Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.

💉Josh Rubin, MD @drsandman11.medsky.social · 15/07/2026

Hey how’s this turning out

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

More like skeptical (never sceptical)

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Look I’m trying to adapt to Canadian spelling. Behaviour. Centre. Defence. Travelled. But I‘m drawing the line at ‘sceptical.’ I’ve seen both variants here in Canada — which do you use? Sceptical or Skeptical?

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

For the uninitiated: the standard process for reporting suspected cheating in academia is for the prof to do hours of unpaid paperwork, collect evidence, and then present it before a tribunal (sometimes 2-3 times) just for there to be no accountability regardless of the verdict of the report.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Shoutout to the time it took me months to receive an honorarium because a billing department couldn’t fathom that my driver‘s license would have a different address than my LLC.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

They promised me bagged milk in the Canadian welcome package and didn’t tell me that it just doesn’t exist in my province. I’m still buying milk in plastic jugs. WHERE THE BAGS AT. I wanted to buy one of them little milk bag pitchers.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

My vocabulary and choice of words is something that has been commented on so often it’s come up in student evaluations, practicum evaluations, job performance reviews, and peer reviews. Words are fun, and I like clear, precise communication.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Aslynn’s exactly right (thanks!) — I want to tread carefully to avoid any potential litigation. There’s been a lot of discourse around what’s happened online for anyone curious, especially on Instagram and Threads (of which I have neither 🙂)

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

As there is still information around connecting me to the organization, I want to clarify that I left my psychologist position at Embrace Autism in May 2026. I did not take a sabbatical, or a sick leave. I resigned in response to, what I saw as, public and private misuse of institutional power.

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

We also highlight providers’ ethical worries about a national autism registry, including fears of autistic discrimination. Read for free: irp.cdn-website.com/c0d44f22/fil...

irp.cdn-website.com

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

🚨 New publication 🚨 We gave a small sample of U.S. mental health professionals a survey exploring their attitudes towards a national autism registry. In general, they largely disagreed with current U.S. national talking points (e.g., autism is an epidemic, we need to find a cure).

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Chris Dabbs, Ph.D. @dabbspsych.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Indiana‘s politics are indefensible, and why I moved away, but the Crossroads of America has had its fair share of artists and authors. Just to name a few: Michael Jackson (and all the Jacksons) John Mellencamp David Lee Roth Kurt Vonnegut John Green (adopted in my heart) Jim Davis

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Reposted by Chris Dabbs, Ph.D.

Barrelhouse @barrelhouse.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

On the eve of our submission window opening, we felt we should add an AI policy

ABOUT AI:
Anyone who uses AI to write something they submit to us is a loser, and we want nothing to do with them.

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