Migration by Bluebird is an Austin based nonprofit vocational and transition program for adults 18 and older on the autism spectrum. We combine individualized, evidence based therapy with real vocational training in a working business environment, a model that does not yet exist in Austin. Community members train alongside therapists and neurotypical support staff, building the social, vocational, and daily living skills they need to obtain and sustain employment in the broader community.

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States, and Texas ranks 45th in the nation for employment outcomes for adults on the spectrum. Nearly 80% of adults on the spectrum are unemployed or underemployed, not because of a lack of ability, but because the support system that exists for children largely disappears at 21. Migration exists to change that.

This October, we move into our permanent home in Austin's North Loop, a 1950s bungalow directly across from Home Slice Pizza. In spring 2027, we open the Migration Mercantile and Cafe to the public. Community members will train across every part of the operation, from coffee and baked goods to retail and customer service, building the hard and soft skills that make employment sustainable. The Mercantile will also carry products made by artisans and craftspeople on the spectrum from across the country, giving those makers visibility and income.

After hours, the space becomes a gathering place for the broader special needs community to connect and build relationships, because belonging matters as much as employment.

Your support funds:

Specialized therapists and neurotypical support staff
Equipping and furnishing of the Mercantile and Cafe
Program materials and training
Day to day operational costs
Scholarships that make the program accessible

Please visit https://migrationmercantile.com for more information.

About Migration Mercantile