Daniel Durany on Real-World Adulting: Jobs, Dating, Driving, Budgeting & Self-Advocacy (Autism)

Autism advocate, author, and year-round sports official Daniel Durany joins me to get practical about adulting: keeping a job (not just getting one), dating without panic, building independence behind the wheel, and budgeting so freedom lasts. Daniel’s spoken across the country (Texas State Autism Conference, Oklahoma State Autism Conference ’14 & ’24, Virginia Tech keynote 2023, Joining Forces 2025) and served on the Texas Council on Autism & PDD—so this is real talk with receipts.

What you’ll learn

Work that sticks: mentors, social savvy, and asking for reasonable accommodations
Self-advocacy 101 → 401: IEP/504 tips that translate to adult life and HR
Dating on purpose: pace, boundaries, and reading signals without spiraling
Driving independence: step-by-step progression (lot → neighborhood → roads → highway)
Money basics that actually work: simple tracking, guardrails, and weekly reviews
Dopamine management: gaming vs. outdoor reps—how to rebalance, not “quit”
Rural resources: how to build the group you wish existed

About Daniel

Autism speaker, writer, consultant, mentor; founded an Asperger’s support group with FEAT-NT
Member, Texas Council on Autism & PDD
Year-round sports official (softball, basketball, volleyball) and sports analyst/writer

Links & resources

🎟️ NeuroThrive Autism Workshop (Dr. Ana Villalaz) — 10+ hrs of expert sessions + replays
https://autismsupport.live/ntsalespage-july-step?am_id=aprilratchford

🤝 Social Connections Summit — tools for authentic relationships & community
https://www.patternsofpossibility.com/scs2025

🛍️ Show Merch (support the pod)
https://adulting-with-autism-shop.fourthwall.com/

🛒 Support the podcast & merch: linktr.ee/adultingwithautism
⚡ Tools for neurodivergent success: MFISH 4-in-1 Charger https://mfish.shop/discount/mfishAdultingwithAutismPodcast

Connect

Daniel Durany — LinkedIn | Facebook | X (search “Daniel Durany”)
Adulting With Autism — IG / FB / LinkedIn / TikTok / YouTube (tag us with your takeaways)

If this episode helped, follow the show, drop ★★★★★, and share it with one parent or young adult who needs the boost.

Keep fierce. Keep focused. Keep Adulting with Autism.

The Social Connections Summit is a virtual two-day event for professionals committed to building more inclusive, compassionate, and connected workplaces.

This year, we’re centering the voices of late-identified Autistic, AuDHD, and ADHD professionals especially those who struggle to get accommodations, feel misunderstood, or find it hard to connect at work.

Come as you are. Leave with clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of belonging.

mfish: Organize. Simplify. Win
Eco-friendly, high-quality tech tool to simplify school, work and life

NeuroThrive
Empowering autism families with expert workshops, live Q&A, and global support.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Published on 4 days, 16 hours ago

Podcast Episode Details

Daniel Durany on Real-World Adulting: Jobs, Dating, Driving, Budgeting & Self-Advocacy (Autism)