San Antonio adults with disabilities build careers via coffee truck and markets

On a recent October morning, Jake Ramirez, 24, stood behind a T-shirt table in a church parking lot, listing sizes and colors for shoppers at a pop-up market.

Ramirez, who has autism, is a student at SA Life Academy, a day program in Alamo Heights for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He works alongside peers like Grace Soto, 21, who sells handmade earrings, and others who distribute homemade dog treats, bread, and salsa. A coffee truck named Rising Stars occupies the far end of the lot, where students serve americano and lattes.

The academy, founded in 2017, operates out of Mount Cavalry Lutheran Church. Executive director Samantah Kidwell explained that the market serves as a training ground for pre-vocational skills. Students practice customer service, manage inventory, and collaborate on product creation. All proceeds from the market and coffee truck return to the program to support its operations.

While the academy does not yet provide formal job coaching, it aims to do so in the future. Several students currently hold part-time positions or volunteer. Becca Major, 28, recently secured a restocking job at H-E-B through the academy’s career development track. Major cited the supportive management and the independence of earning a wage as key reasons she enjoys the role.

The organization currently serves approximately 170 students, ranging in age from 18 to 56. Most students are in their twenties and enroll after aging out of public school services. The academy opened a seventh classroom this year and is seeking funding for an eighth. Classes are typically capped at 12 students to ensure individual attention.

Local data indicates a high demand for such services. A 2018 study by the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation estimated that 21,600 adults in Bexar County have autism spectrum disorder or an IDD. That number is projected to rise to 27,000 by 2030. A 2024 survey by the IDD Champions Coalition, which includes SA Life Academy, found that 75% of families struggle to access services when needed. Additionally, 80% of caregivers reported having no adult care plan, and 32% quit their jobs to meet care demands.

Staff are working to expand opportunities beyond the church grounds. Kidwell plans to open Cindy’s Cottage, a brick and mortar retail storefront, around 2028. The project was delayed while the program secures funding. In the interim, student ambassadors present their experiences to local business groups, and the Rising Stars Coffee truck remains open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The next pop-up market will feature a Christmas theme. It is scheduled for Dec. 15 at Mount Cavalry Lutheran Church, starting at 9 a.m. and continuing until supplies run out.