Joe is participating for the second time in a VCU program called Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Through Va-LEND, people who will be working in healthcare are paired with families that include kids with intellectual disabilities to give the future pros a taste of what the families experience.

I like to imagine it was a cut-throat, Hunger Games kind of thing where a remarkable young woman named Joyti defeated a herd of pretenders for a chance to work with our boy. It was more likely just smart work on the Va-LEND team’s part. Either way, Joyti has now earned a spot on Team Joe – another terrific person who will grow and mature under his tutelage.

Tonight she beamed in for a quick visit. The iPads were cracklin’ with mutual admiration. Welcome to the team Joyti!