IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL OR TEXT 988 TO CONNECT WITH THE SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE

SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE 24/7

IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL OR TEXT 988 TO CONNECT WITH THE SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE

SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE 24/7

IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL OR TEXT 988 TO CONNECT WITH THE SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE 24/7 IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL OR TEXT 988 TO CONNECT WITH THE SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE 24/7

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Our Mission

The Danny Boy Foundation is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing evidence-informed suicide prevention for neurodivergent individuals.

We focus on early intervention, affirming care, system-level change, and practical support that reduce isolation, shame, and daily strain before crisis begins.

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Our Vision

We envision a future in which neurodivergent individuals are understood and supported across schools, workplaces, healthcare systems, faith communities, and homes.

A future where prevention is proactive, where systems don’t demand conformity, and where belonging is recognized as a protective factor against suicide.

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Explore Our Programs

What Makes Our Approach Different

Most suicide prevention focuses on crisis. Ours begins much earlier.

01

We intervene earlier

We focus on the environments that shape risk long before a crisis emerges - reducing chronic stress, isolation, and unmet needs at their source.

02

We center neurodivergent identity

We recognize that risk is not inherent to neurodivergence, but often arises invalidating or unresponsive environments.

03

We focus on systems

Sustainable prevention requires change across schools, healthcare systems, workplaces, and communities - not placing the burden of survival on individuals alone.

When environments become more responsive and affirming, risk decreases and lives are protected.

stand with us
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  • Research consistently shows that neurodivergent individuals face significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation, attempts, and death.

    This includes individuals who are autistic, have ADHD, learning differences, sensory processing differences, and other neurodevelopmental profiles.

    This is not about individual weakness. It is driven by environments that fail to understand and support neurodivergent people.

    • Misunderstanding and invalidation

    • Exclusion, bullying, and marginalization

    • Masking, burnout, and identity exhaustion

    • Barriers to affirming care

    • Financial and structural inequities

    Effective prevention must address these drivers directly.

Learn about our suicide prevention model

Our Story

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The Danny Boy Foundation was created in honor of Danny Ashtiani, who died by suicide at 17.

Danny was intellectually gifted and had ADHD, a twice-exceptional profile that is frequently misunderstood within educational, healthcare, and community systems. Too often, his support needs were not recognized in ways that could have altered his trajectory.

His life, and his loss, catalyzed our commitment to building systems that respond earlier, more accurately, and more affirmingly to neurodivergent individuals.

We know that when neurodivergent individuals are affirmed early, supported consistently, and surrounded by responsive environments, outcomes improve.

This foundation exists so fewer families ever face the preventable question:

What if someone had understood sooner?

Read Our Full Story
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Our Commitment to Integrity

The Danny Boy Foundation is committed to transparency, ethical stewardship, and measurable impact. Our governance model emphasizes accountability, responsible growth, and evidence-informed strategies designed for long-term change.

We are building for long-term public trust, measurable outcomes, and responsible stewardship.

Leadership & Board
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