Our History
The Autism Trust, a non-profit organization with the mission of providing vocational, educational, wellness, and semi-independent residential programs for individuals with autism is the engine behind The Autism Center, Austin.
As parents of a child with autism, Polly and JonathanTommey were faced with the painful and disturbing reality that their son, Billy, would have no long-term care facilities or suitable options for his long-term well being beyond his school years.
Determined to fill this much needed gap, The Autism Trust was founded in the UK in 2007.
In June 2012, the UK headquarters was established in Sunninghill, complete with a Polly’s Place social enterprise shop featuring handmade products beautifully crafted by people with autism, Asperger’s, and related conditions and their families. The building is also a training center where young adults with autism can practice vocational skills, job training, and work towards an ASDAN certificate.
In October of 2012, the Tommey family relocated to Austin, Texas, to further their mission of serving individuals and families impacted by autism, as well as the communities in which they live.
The Autism Trust USA has received a very generous donation of 40 acres of beautiful land in Austin, Texas, upon which the comprehensive facility will be built.
The Autism Trust has engaged and retained an advisory board. They have developed close working associations with a certified civil engineer, architects, land developers, builders and a real estate attorney to assist with completion of all required tasks relative to our land acquisition and development.
The Tommeys are a British family who moved to Austin Texas in October 2012 to live as permanent residents in the US. They have three beautiful children Bella, Billy and Toby. Billy is their middle child, now 20 years of age with autism, and like all other parents are concerned for their son’s future post educational years.
As advocates for autism across the world, they brought with them the vision of developing The Autism Trust here in Austin to provide a healthy, inspiring and sustainable future for Billy and other individual adults with autism to live for the rest of his life with dignity, purpose and respect.
