About Raising Different Together
Built from lived experience. Made so families feel less alone.
Two moms. One shared purpose.♡
Raising Different Together was created by two mothers who learned firsthand that parents don’t just need information. They need clarity, preparation, and someone who understands.
Two different journeys. One shared commitment.
Our experiences as mothers have shaped the way we see the world, while our different professional and educational backgrounds shape how we approach challenges. Together, we bring compassion, curiosity, careful research, and a love for connecting the dots. We know that every family’s story is different, and we believe the best support begins with listening, understanding, and working together.
Casey DeLeon-Pinola
Co-Founder, Raising Different Together
I never imagined that becoming a special needs mom would also mean becoming an advocate, researcher, navigator, and relentless voice for my children. As a mother of three incredible children with a wide range of disabilities and medical needs, including cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD, anxiety, pathological demand avoidance (PDA), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and emotion-based school avoidance (EBSA), I’ve spent years learning how to navigate systems that can often feel overwhelming.
Through countless IEP meetings, evaluations, medical appointments, and conversations with educators and specialists, I’ve experienced the frustration of not being heard, but also the victories that come with persistence, preparation, and collaboration. Alongside my lived experience, I bring a background in nursing and a degree in Educational Studies with a focus on Early Childhood Education. Both have shaped how I approach advocacy, with compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to understanding the whole child.
My passion is helping families feel informed, supported, and less alone. I know what it’s like to question decisions, search for answers, and wonder whether you’re doing enough. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I believe in asking thoughtful questions, understanding the information in front of us, and helping parents find their voice.
That’s what Raising Different Together means to me. A place where families can find guidance, share experiences, celebrate milestones, and feel understood. Because every child deserves to be seen and supported, and every parent deserves to know they don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Casey DeLeon-Pinola
Danielle Sitnick-Raja
Co-Founder, Raising Different Together
I became an advocate long before I realized I was also advocating for someone like myself. As the mother of two bright, complex children, I’ve navigated autism, ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, auditory processing challenges, and serious medical concerns, including childhood cancer. I watched my children be described as “average” or “fine” on paper while knowing there was more to their stories. Those experiences taught me that understanding a child’s needs often means looking beyond what’s written.
At 40, I received my own autism and ADHD diagnoses. Suddenly, so much of my childhood made sense. I recognized experiences in my children that I had navigated for years without understanding why. That realization deepened my commitment to helping families recognize and advocate for needs that aren’t always obvious to others.
Alongside my lived experience, I bring bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and experience as an adjunct professor. My analytical nature shapes my advocacy: examining evaluations, connecting information across records, identifying inconsistencies, and asking questions that help families understand their children’s educational needs.
My passion is helping parents feel heard, informed, and confident. I know how exhausting it can be when your concerns don’t match what the paperwork says. That’s why Raising Different Together means so much to me: a place for clarity, meaningful support, and a community that understands. Because no parent should have to fight to be heard or feel alone in the process.
Danielle Sitnick-Raja
How Raising Different Together Began ♡
Raising Different Together wasn’t created in a boardroom… it grew out of a friendship.
We met as two moms whose daughters were classmates in a gifted and talented program. From the outside, they appeared to be thriving academically. What many people didn’t see were the struggles happening behind the scenes: anxiety, sensory differences, ADHD, autism, emotional challenges, cancer, and the exhausting effort it took for our girls to simply make it through each school day.
As the years passed, our daughters became inseparable, more like sisters than friends. At the same time, we found ourselves walking remarkably similar paths. We spent countless hours researching, attending evaluations, preparing for school meetings, advocating for services, celebrating breakthroughs, and supporting one another through setbacks. Together, we fought to have all our children seen, understood, appropriately evaluated, and given the support they deserved.
That shared journey became the seed and the heart of Raising Different Together. What began as two moms leaning on each other has grown into a community dedicated to helping families feel informed, empowered, and connected. We know firsthand that advocacy can feel overwhelming, but we also know the difference it makes when someone truly gets it and walks beside you. You don’t have to navigate this alone. We’re here, and we’re in this together.
friendship. ♡
What Guides Us ♡
Our Belief
We believe every child deserves to be seen, understood, and supported, every parent deserves to be heard, and every family deserves access to the knowledge and guidance needed to advocate with confidence. No family should have to navigate this journey alone.
Our Vision
A world where children with disabilities, neurodivergence, and diverse learning needs receive the understanding, opportunities, and support they deserve—and where families feel empowered to advocate, connected to one another, and supported by a community that celebrates their differences.
Our Mission
To empower families through educational advocacy preparation, clear information, practical resources, and compassionate parent-to-parent guidance. By helping parents understand their children’s needs, navigate special education, and advocate with confidence, we build a community rooted in shared experiences, meaningful connections, and mutual support.
