What’s New at
Jake Max Foundation

November 2026

Community Spotlight: Best Buddies

• Best Buddies is an international organization and our partner at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill focusing on pairing people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) with students. Their mission is to encourage lasting friendships between college and community buddies through group-bonding events like talent shows, movie screenings, and sports events. The group also leads campus-wide initiatives, speaker series, and inclusion campaigns.
• Similar to Jake Max’s mission of empowering individuals with disabilities to pursue their passions and participate in an economic opportunity, Best Buddies aims to help these individuals build confidence and the necessary social skills to succeed in working environments.
• Click for more information on Best Buddies (the international chapter) and Best Buddies (the North Carolina chapter).

Maximizer Spotlight: Zoey

• Maximizer Zoey Grace Mabel Job is a fifteen-year-old artist who wants to be both an artist and a fashion designer. Born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, she spent her first weeks in the NICU and later had open-heart surgery. Since then, she has approached life with energy and determination—drawing nearly every day, singing, acting, playing with friends, and exploring fashion and design.
• Her artwork carries a clear message of beauty and possibility. As her family puts it, “It’s a bella zoey = it’s a beautiful life.” This November, Zoey’s creativity is a reminder that individuals with disabilities bring unique perspectives and talent to the world.
• Read more of Zoey’s story and shop her designs on our site.

November Awareness

• World Diabetes Day — November 14
  Diabetes is one of the world’s fastest-growing health challenges, with approximately 1 in 9 adults currently living with the condition worldwide. Led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), this year’s campaign focuses on early action through diagnosis, timely access to care, and risk reduction for type 2 diabetes.
• World COPD Day — November 18
  Organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in partnership with healthcare professionals and advocacy groups, this day raises awareness and educates on ways to reduce the global burden of COPD. The focus is early diagnosis and management for a better life. COPD is a common, preventable, and treatable disease; under- and misdiagnosis often mean patients receive care later in its course. Patients, providers, policymakers, and families can advocate for more research and better access to care.
• National Epilepsy Awareness Month
  November raises public awareness, reduces stigma, and supports individuals living with seizure disorders. About 1 in 10 people will experience a seizure in their lifetime, and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy. This year’s theme, “Where Community Sparks Hope,” emphasizes that no one impacted by epilepsy should navigate their journey alone. Through relationships with family, friends, caregivers, advocates, providers, and peers, hope grows and people with epilepsy can thrive. #WhereCommunitySparksHope

Understanding How Words Matter: Person-First vs Identity-First Language

• What is the difference? Person-first language prioritizes the person before the disease, disorder, condition, or disability as only one part of the whole person. On the other hand, identity-first language uses more labels and adjectives to center the condition or descriptor before the person. Both types of language are viewed differently by advocacy groups, medical professionals, and communities. Person-first tends to emphasize the person as more than their diagnosis or condition, while identity-first is seen by some as advocating for a condition or diagnosis as an inseparable part of one’s identity.
• What are some examples?
• • Students who are blind vs blind students
  • People experiencing homelessness vs the homeless
  • A person with autism vs an autistic person
• Why does this matter? Many people are shifting towards person-first language, however there are nuances in the conversation over which one to use. One of the most important takeaways is that the meaning behind what is said matters more than a person’s choice to use person-first and identity-first language. The words themselves are not the cause of discrimination in our society, but rather the attitudes and prejudice behind them. 
• Click here to learn more!

Contact us

Jake Max Foundation

info@jakemax.com

Brett Segobiano

Founder, President

Eric Requet

VP, Director of Development

Matt Malir

VP, Director of Operations