MEET THE FOUNDERS
Dani Amirian
Founder
My name is Dani, and I’m the lucky mom of three incredible children; my 8-year old son James, my 6-year old Jules and my 2-year old Jacqueline.
I have a background in Media Marketing, where I spent eight years in media marketing, working at CBS Television Network and Condé Nast Entertainment. During that time, I had the privilege of working with some of the world’s leading brands and building strategic marketing campaigns that reached millions.
It all began when James was just four months old. We started noticing developmental delays and a crossing in his eyes. He was later diagnosed with strabismus, which quickly led to corrective eye surgery at just seven months old and what followed were months then years of evaluations, therapies, and long days filled with questions.
Eventually, James was diagnosed with a Motor Planning Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Coordination Disorder, and a Language-Based Learning Disability. But these diagnoses don’t begin to capture who he is. Today, he’s thriving as a second grader at a Language Based Learning Disability school in Manhattan that truly understands him and supports his learning style.
This journey has been anything but easy. There have been tears, sleepless nights, moments of deep doubt but also profound growth, unshakable love, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I’ve had the privilege of learning from brilliant professionals, connecting with other families walking similar paths, and discovering a new calling: to advocate for neurodiverse children.
What once felt like an unexpected detour has become one of the greatest gifts of my life. It’s shown me the incredible strength within my son, the resilience of our family and the power of community.
Allison Hirsch
Founder
My name is Allison, and I’m a proud mom of three amazing kids; my 7-year-old son Liam, and my 4-year-old twins Emma and Dylan.
For years, I worked as a registered nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, caring for patients in Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and the Neuro ICU. I’m also a certified Birth Doula and Infant Development Instructor, supporting families through their most meaningful milestones. But when Emma’s journey began at just five months old and she wasn’t reaching her milestones, everything changed. After months of searching for answers, she was diagnosed at age one, with SYNGAP1, a rare genetic disorder. I then made the decision to leave nursing to focus on what mattered most- advocating for Emma and supporting her needs.
Her SYNGAP1 diagnosis brought many challenges: epilepsy, ASD, global developmental delays, nonverbal communication, and issues with motor planning, muscle tone, and sensory processing. But Emma is not defined by these challenges. She is an inspiring warrior; she is resilient, loving, and full of joy. Today, she is thriving in a specialized program on the UES, where her perseverance & determination shine every single day.
This journey has meant endless doctors’ appointments, therapies, and unknowns. We’ve worked through blood, sweat, and tears and it has been exhausting but also transformative and uplifting. It has taught us what really matters; that the small things are, in fact, the big things. Every smile, every sound, every milestone is worth celebrating. I’ve learned so much from Emma’s strength and from the inspiring people we’ve met along the way; and I found my passion: to empower families, help advocate for their children and provide support as they navigate the unknown world of developmental disabilities & neurodiversity.
You can read more about Emma’s story here: Emma’s Story.