10/20/2026
At a networking event, an adult with Down syndrome caught a woman off guard.
The adult wasn't being invited to birthday parties or participating in extracurricular activities. Jaimie Valentini shared how those missed opportunities could lead to loneliness.
A woman listening mentioned that she had a neighbor with Down syndrome, but she'd never considered that part of their experience.
For Jaimie, that reaction wasn't about a lack of compassion. It was about a lack of awareness.
Sometimes, people simply don't know what others in their own community are experiencing.
That's why she believes education is such an important part of creating a more inclusive community.
Before people can recognize where inclusion is missing, they first need to understand the experiences they may have never considered.
🎙️ Watch the full episode of Behind The Fox: https://youtu.be/mJbEV55HryA