Driven by perseverance and a passion for learning, Daniel turned to SARRC’s Employment Services team as he continued building confidence in the workplace and beyond.
For Daniel Liguori, a 37-year-old from Goodyear, Arizona, building a career in law enforcement has long been a passion and a goal.
With a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University, he has made successful strides towards his goals of employment and independence.
Despite his education and determination, finding opportunities that aligned with his long-term career aspirations proved more difficult than he expected. Like many job seekers, Daniel faced rejection while searching for employment that matched his qualifications and interests, leaving him feeling discouraged and frustrated.
Through personal counseling, Daniel began to uncover the root of the issue. It wasn’t his skill level or his experience holding him back — it was a lack of confidence within himself.
With a referral from his Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC), Daniel enrolled in SARRC’s Employment Services, a program that provides personalized career coaching that helps autistic adults develop skills to prepare for, obtain and maintain meaningful employment.
“There are a lot of variables beyond your scope that make it difficult to understand rejection. Knowing that I have the support and resources to overcome the challenges I’ve had, I feel a lot more fulfilled,” Daniel says.
Prior to enrolling in Employment Services, Daniel began working at Target as a checkout advocate, a role he still holds today. During his coaching sessions, he has built on his strong workplace foundation by further developing essential skills such as self-advocacy, communication and receiving feedback, helping him continue to grow both personally and professionally.
“The job can be physically taxing, talking to several people for hours on end,” Daniel shares.
By learning strategies to reduce barriers, he has been able to remain focused, recharge when needed, and better navigate the demands of a customer-facing environment. “I now manage expectations and realize when it’s time to take a break.”
By embracing feedback and putting new skills into practice, Daniel has strengthened his ability to succeed both in the workplace and in everyday life.
“Daniel has always had the ability to succeed. My role has been helping him recognize that in himself. Watching him apply those skills has been incredibly rewarding, and I know they’ll continue to serve him well as he pursues his long-term career in law enforcement,” says Ashley, SARRC’s Employment Services Coordinator.
Recently, one of Daniel’s most exciting accomplishments has been securing a volunteer position with the Arizona Rangers, where he works on public safety research, crime statistics and recruitment.
Along the way, Daniel has reached several important milestones, including managing a weekly newsletter for the Arizona Rangers and finding his voice as an advocate for autism awareness.
Daniel has leaned on sources of inspiration that have kept him moving forward. From the song “Like a Rock” by Bob Seger, whose message of perseverance has encouraged him through life’s challenges, to the Arizona Rangers organization, whose mentorship has helped shape his confidence and determination, these influences have played an important role in both his personal and professional growth.
“I don’t have to mask myself to be neurotypical, and before I would do everything to hide that. It was exhausting to do that every day before realizing that I don’t have to.”
Today, Daniel continues to focus on his professional growth, without letting past experiences define his future.
With each lesson and milestone achieved, Daniel is using his confidence to shape a future built on independence and meaningful community impact.