Riddell devotes her work to improving the well-being of people living in poverty. She developed gettin’ by to promote understanding of poverty’s impact on people — how they live, make decisions, and struggle.  Unlike other poverty simulations, gettin’ by does not focus on money.  The game is modeled after social science laboratory experiments that induce the poverty mind set.  Players experience themselves the brain changes that happen to a person coping with poverty.

She is an experienced and passionate public speaker.  She has led sessions of gettin’ by for the National Education Association, and has spoken at many national and regional conferences.