Still looking to chat with teachers about AI use in primary and middle schools. #EdTech #GenAI #JournoRequests

Simon Spichak@spichaksimon.bsky.social · last wk.

Hi, I'm a science journalist working on a story for JMIR. I'm writing about the impact of generative AI in primary and middle school. Hoping to hear from teachers about AI use in school and any guidance administrators are providing. Happy to provide anonymity. DM me to chat!

Hi, I'm a science journalist working on a story for JMIR. I'm writing about the impact of generative AI in primary and middle school. Hoping to hear from teachers about AI use in school and any guidance administrators are providing. Happy to provide anonymity. DM me to chat!

Long COVID’s heterogenous nature means vast variations in symptoms and severity that may also make it more difficult to study and design good treatment trials. How do you separate strong studies from weak ones, and spot the bunk? Read more from @spichaksimon.bsky.social: bit.ly/4fxNWli

For the @thesicktimes.org I wrote a primer on how to read trials critically. We go over what different types of trials can and can't tell us as well as the difference between a statistically significant and a meaningful result. thesicktimes.org/2026/07/21/h...

How to interpret clinical trial results for Long COVID - The Sick Times

With no proven treatments or cures, many people with Long COVID are turning to off-label medications, supplements, and medical devices to treat their symptoms. There are numerous options — and some of...

thesicktimes.org

☀️ As The Sick Times approaches our 3-year anniversary, we’re shifting from a startup to a more sustainable newsroom, in it for the long haul. And we’re marking that shift with a summer sustainability fundraiser. 🌱 2 weeks, 200 new Supporters? Help us grow? the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/

Although millions of artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled toys are marketed and sold as educational companions, there is almost no research about their impact on neurodevelopment in young children. Sharing my latest for @jmirpub.bsky.social about AI toys. jmir.org/2026/1/e102064

Today @thesicktimes.org: Research ethics boards urgently need training on Long COVID and ME, @spichaksimon.bsky.social argues. Better training could help prevent studies that may harm patients, like those trialing exercise. thesicktimes.org/2026/06/02/r...

Research ethics boards need urgent training on Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis - The Sick Times

Last year, researchers in Ontario, Canada started recruiting participants for a Long COVID trial testing the feasibility of exercise and rehabilitation. Like many other studies of exercise, it doesn’t...

thesicktimes.org

What happens when you write a letter to an ethics board about concerns over a Long COVID trial? The ethics committee sends a response to an entirely different group of people and tells you to contact them to get a response! My commentary for @thesicktimes.org thesicktimes.org/2026/06/02/r... 1/n

Canada’s government is putting its faith — and $3.3 million — in software designed to assess which #AI chatbots are trustworthy for the benefits system, which supports almost 16 million Canadians. My latest for @ricochetmedia.bsky.social ricochet.media/politics/ins...

Inside the black box reshaping Canada’s benefits system

Understand the impacts of how new AI tools are reshaping Canada’s benefits system on transparency and accountability for citizens.

ricochet.media

Inside the reshaping of Canada’s benefits system Documents reveal feds relying on secretive AI oversight software to guide modernization efforts — raising fears about automated denials, bias and disappearing accountability. New from @spichaksimon.bsky.social: ricochet.media/politics/ins...

Inside the black box reshaping Canada’s benefits system

Understand the impacts of how new AI tools are reshaping Canada’s benefits system on transparency and accountability for citizens.

ricochet.media

Are chatbots eroding our thinking skills? I went beyond the headlines and spoke with researchers for Refractor to understand the phenomenon. So far, the evidence is limited and not conclusive, but for experts say there’s enough reason to be concerned. refractor.io/science/chat...

Are chatbots eroding our thinking skills?

Last year, researchers at the MIT Media Lab shared preliminary research investigating the cognitive costs of using a chatbot for writing essays. Though the study hadn’t gone through peer-review yet – ...

refractor.io

Let's give @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social her flowers 💐! She's been nominated as an emerging leader by @inn.org as a luminary in non-profit news. Beyond her incredible reporting/editing on #LongCOVID, Betsy does so much unsung work that makes The Sick Times the force that it is. #INNYs2026

Goober sniffing out stories for me to report

An estimated that 2.1M Canadians are living with #LongCOVID and 600k are missing work or school as a result. Most have no access to trials. Only 38 are enrolling in Canada with less than 4.5k total participants. For #LongCOVIDAwarenessDay, I looked at funding and trials.

With Long COVID Day on March 15th, I'm compiling data and charts on Canadian funding and trials using public data. In the process of putting together some tables and charts. Will be publishing a piece about this on my blog soon. Stay tuned! simonspichak.beehiiv.com

Canadian Health Sentinel

Accurate, patient-centered reporting on Long COVID, ME/CFS, and disability in Canada.

simonspichak.beehiiv.com

For a story in @thesicktimes.org, seeking organizers in any left movement work who’ve taken a break or fully stepped away from organizing sometime since 2020 due to Long COVID. They can be anonymous in the piece and may reach out directly at longdefeat.08 on Signal #LongCOVID #NEISvoid

The UN released a scathing report on Canada’s treatment of disabled people last spring—calling out inadequate support & urging a halt to MAiD expansion + Track Two. I document the government's silence about the report. My piece in @breachmedia.ca 1/n breachmedia.ca/canada-sides...

Canada sidesteps UN scrutiny over assisted dying ⋆ The Breach

Calls by disability advocates and the UN to halt an expansion of medically assisted death have gone largely unacknowledged by the federal government

breachmedia.ca

For my first story in @breachmedia.ca, I wanted to know what Canada was doing about a scathing UN disability report that criticized the disability benefit and the expansion of assisted suicide. I'll be writing a longer thread soon. breachmedia.ca/canada-sides...

Canada sidesteps UN scrutiny over assisted dying ⋆ The Breach

Calls by disability advocates and the UN to halt an expansion of medically assisted death have gone largely unacknowledged by the federal government

breachmedia.ca

The Breach@breachmedia.ca · 6mo ago

The UN released a scathing report criticizing Canada’s treatment of disabled people and expansion of assisted suicide. What did Canada have to say for itself? Not much. @spichaksimon.bsky.social reports on Canada’s silence in the face of criticism from the UN and disability advocates.

"Almost a year after the report’s release, there is no plan to substantially act on any of the UN’s recommendations. Government officials guessed right: mainstream news outlets have largely ignored the report’s criticisms of MAiD. " @spichaksimon.bsky.social breachmedia.ca/canada-sides...

Canada sidesteps UN scrutiny over assisted dying ⋆ The Breach

Calls by disability advocates and the UN to halt an expansion of medically assisted death have gone largely unacknowledged by the federal government

breachmedia.ca

For nearly a year, the feds have been quiet about a scathing UN report on Canada's treatment of disabled people, including MAiD expansion and paltry financial supports @spichaksimon.bsky.social presses the government for answers in our latest for @breachmedia.ca breachmedia.ca/canada-sides...

Canada sidesteps UN scrutiny over assisted dying ⋆ The Breach

Calls by disability advocates and the UN to halt an expansion of medically assisted death have gone largely unacknowledged by the federal government

breachmedia.ca

Pediatric research into #LongCOVID is several years behind that of adults. In 2026, RECOVER-TLC will launch a 1300-person pediatric trial testing low-dose naltrexone for fatigue. @spichaksimon.bsky.social examines that trial, and two other pediatric trials in progress. bit.ly/3Oosi9a

Despite Long COVID's toll on millions of children, there are only a handful of clinical trials that include them. @spichaksimon.bsky.social reported on three upcoming pediatric trials. Co-published with @19thnews.org! thesicktimes.org/2026/02/03/l...

Long COVID affects millions of children. The largest pediatric trial so far launches this year. - The Sick Times

One NIH study will test low-dose naltrexone, while other upcoming trials will test larozitide and taurine.

thesicktimes.org

Today @thesicktimes.org: RECOVER-TLC is launching the biggest Long COVID pediatric trial so far. @spichaksimon.bsky.social examines that trial, and two other pediatric trials in progress. thesicktimes.org/2026/02/03/l...

Long COVID affects millions of children. The largest pediatric trial so far launches this year. - The Sick Times

One NIH study will test low-dose naltrexone, while other upcoming trials will test larozitide and taurine.

thesicktimes.org

My latest for @thesicktimes.org covers RECOVER-TLC and two other pediatric Long COVID trials.

betsy ladyzhets 😷@betsyladyzhets.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Today @thesicktimes.org: RECOVER-TLC is launching the biggest Long COVID pediatric trial so far. @spichaksimon.bsky.social examines that trial, and two other pediatric trials in progress. thesicktimes.org/2026/02/03/l...

@thesicktimes.org is one of the only newsrooms dedicated to widescale coverage of #LongCOVID. They need our support in their end of year fundraiser. Through their support, I published two major stories this year. 1/🧵 bsky.app/profile/thes...

The Sick Times (@thesicktimes.org)

We’re over halfway through our end-of-year fundraiser, and we’re not where we need to be to keep our vital work going. We have three weeks left to hit our goals of $60,000 and 200 monthly supporters.…

bsky.app

We’re over halfway through our end-of-year fundraiser, and we’re not where we need to be to keep our vital work going. We have three weeks left to hit our goals of $60,000 and 200 monthly supporters. The #LongCOVID community needs us — we need you! the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/

I emailed the CBC ombud a complaint about the Gill Deacon segment that platformed the Lightning Process and brain retraining quackery for Long COVID. Here's their response: simonspichak.beehiiv.com/p/my-complai...

My Complaint About CBC's Gill Deacon Segment and Their Response

I emailed the CBC Ombud criticizing The National for platforming Gill Deacon and the Lightning Process. Here's the response.

simonspichak.beehiiv.com

Simon Spichak@spichaksimon.bsky.social · 9mo ago

CBC's flagship program doubles down on quackery, adds patient blaming rhetoric after pushback on the Gill Deacon interview. I've updated the story: simonspichak.beehiiv.com/p/cbc-flagsh... Brief summary below with Alt Text.

I'll be writing about #LongCOVID trials in kids for @thesicktimes.org. With the protocol for the LDN trial now available for public comment. I wanted to hear from parents and researchers about their thoughts on the protocol. DM me to get in touch. recovercovid.org/news/recover...

RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery

The long-term effects of COVID are real. Join the NIH in the search for answers.

recovercovid.org

Here's the on point article about Inclusion Canada not doing their due diligence w/their benefits navigation services, and pointing disabled people towards shady 3rd party for-profit services just to access basics like the DTC & #CanadaDisabilityBenefit. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar... 1/6

Woman seeking Canada Disability Benefit frustrated after being sent to costly AI-integrated service

When Vancouver Island resident Iris Parker began applying for the Canada Disability Benefit, she didn’t expect to face steep up-front costs—particularly to have AI-integrated software fill out one of ...

ctvnews.ca

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