Made with purpose. Made with potential. Made at Migration.

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Nearly 80% of adults with
autism aren't successfully employed.

Help us change that

What We're Doing

Migration Mercantile is a cafe and gift store in Austin’s North Loop, owned and operated by our organization. Behavioral therapists trained specifically in autism support work alongside community members and neurotypical staff throughout the day, with individualized therapy goals woven into everything that happens on the floor.

 

What makes Migration different is the depth and duration of that support. We focus on building foundational, transferable skills that prepare our community members to obtain and maintain employment across a variety of settings. There is no arbitrary cutoff date. Community members learn together in a real environment, building skills from each other and alongside their peers. The social component doesn’t stop when the shift ends, and our space hosts after-hours events and activities that foster connection and genuine community inclusion. When a community member transitions to outside employment, we stay involved. We work directly with their employer, provide accommodation support, and remain invested in making that job and the life it builds last.

Manifest Migration 2025

Mission:

Our mission is to provide empirically validated treatment to decrease the unemployment rate of the ASD population, while increasing independence and meaningful inclusion in our community.

Vision:

Migration’s vision is an environment of inclusivity that fosters acceptance, enhances awareness, and provides support to individuals with autism across their lifespans.

Why We're Doing It

The vast majority of autistic adults are not successfully employed. That number reflects something specific about how the system is structured, not about what autistic people are capable of. The therapeutic support that helps autistic children reach developmental milestones largely disappears in adulthood. It disappears at the exact moment when a new and equally demanding set of skills is required in a new environment with different expectations. Navigating independence, the workplace, and the community they live in requires just as much support as childhood development did. That support simply does not exist.

For most families, adulthood does not arrive gradually. Support ends, often abruptly, around age 22, and what waits on the other side is not a different system or a reduced level of care. It is very little. It does not land on one person. That reality reshapes the lives and futures of everyone around them.

Migration was founded by people who have worked alongside autistic individuals and their families for nearly two decades and watched this play out time after time. They have seen firsthand what it costs when the right support does not exist, and we are convinced that the unemployment crisis in the autism community is not unavoidable. It requires investment, expertise, and something the field has not yet prioritized: a program specifically designed to carry people through adulthood, not abandon them as it begins. Migration is that program.

Skills Addressed

  • Vocational skills (hard and soft)
  • Self management
  • Executive functioning
  • Social communication
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Self-advocacy
  • Activities of daily living

Programs

Migration Mercantile
& Cafe

Serving drinks, treats and gifts created by us and artisans with autism in Austin and nationwide.

Individualized
Therapy

Providing evidence-based supports targeting skills needed to succeed professionally and personally.

Community
Events

We will host a variety of events to provide opportunities for shared, social experiences. 

Job support & Business Training

Working together at local businesses and helping employers and employees succeed over time.

How We’re Different

Hover or Click to Read More

ASD Specific

While we welcome all neurodivergent and IDD individuals, our program is thoughtfully designed with the needs of the ASD community in mind. Autism is uniquely complex and often benefits most from individualized, specialized support—and that’s exactly what we offer. Our approach is flexible, respectful, and rooted in strategies that work.

Behavior Support

With our roots in ABA, Migration is equipped to support individuals with mild to moderate behavioral challenges—something many other programs are not designed to do. Our team uses proactive, compassionate strategies to understand behavior and teach safer, more effective skills, ensuring that those who need a little more support aren’t left out.

Community Involvement

We believe that inclusion is a two-way street. At Migration, we create space not only for our members to engage with the world, but for the community to engage with them—through face-to-face interactions, mentorship opportunities, and shared experiences. One of our goals is to help our members find a place outside of home where they feel welcomed, valued, and connected.

How you can help:

In addition to financial contributions and fundraising partners, we will need a lot of help to establish and maintain our program. We are looking for:

  • Local businesses interested in providing employment / internship opportunities.
  • Professionals who would like to provide information / tours / exposure to different career paths.
  • Community mentors
  • In-kind donations of needed services and supplies.
  • Individuals with autism interested in selling their products in our shop.

Donate Now

Donation website

Please spread the word and stay tuned for updates!

NOW ENROLLING!

We are currently offering a part-time pilot program, and will launch our full scale cafe operation in early 2027.

Contact Us

For more information on the program, how you can join our effort, or to be added to the waitlist, please complete the form below.

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