Support the show via my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AspergersStudio Danny Combs’s journey into neurodiversity advocacy started as a dad’s desperate search for answers when his young son was diagnosed autistic. Back then, support was slim, and every resource seemed to focus on deficits rather than strengths. But Danny saw his son’s creativity and knack for building, and it sparked a realization—why wasn’t anyone talking about what these kids could do? Driven by love and frustration, he dove into research, connected with families, and found his own neurodivergence along the way. The moment that really changed everything was meeting Dr. Temple Grandin, who encouraged him to put down his guitar and create opportunities for neurodivergent talent. That push led him to launch TACT, a place where strengths come first, and later to co-found the first Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce. Danny’s story is one of seeing possibility in the face of limitation, using music, trades, and advocacy to build a world where everyone gets a fair shot.,Danny Combs never set out to become a leader in the neurodivergent community—he just wanted a better world for his son. Watching his son light up while building cardboard creations, even as therapists focused on everything “wrong,” showed Danny that something was missing in the way society saw autism. His family’s background in the trades and his own creative path in music gave him a different lens, one that valued talent and grit over labels. As he dug deeper, Danny realized there were almost no programs out there that celebrated strengths instead of weaknesses. A chance conversation with Temple Grandin gave him the nudge he needed to switch gears from music to advocacy, leading to the launch of TACT and, eventually, the country’s first Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce. Through every twist, Danny learned just how much untapped potential exists when people are seen for who they are—not just what they can’t do. I'm not trying to change them at all. I'm trying to show the world how it needs to change to better them. Danny's Resources: Look up and connect with Danny Combs on LinkedIn to follow his work and access related organizations. Visit the TACT (Teaching the Autism Community Trades) website to learn more or get involved. Visit the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO/Sea Doo) website for information on grants and disability resources. Explore the Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce website to learn about their initiatives and membership. Find and read Danny Combs’ number one Amazon book on supporting neurodivergent and autistic people in their transition to adulthood. Contact Me: https://www.facebook.com/The NeurodivergantConnection https://www.youtube.com/@AspergersStudio https://aspergersstudio.com/ https://www.twitter.com/AspergersStudio https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidmiles/ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
