Specialty: Kitty Wampus the Special Needs Kitten Learns About Autism

By Steve Callahan

Hi! I’m Kitty Wampus. I’m here to tell you about a fellow middle-grade feline named Teddy. He’s new to school, seems cool, and he’s an autistic kitten who plays on my adaptive baseball team.

My friends and I don’t know anything about autism (yet). We just want to be able to talk and play with Teddy, and that’s where our story begins.

We get off to good start as we learn about countdown cards, sign language, and something totally lit called PECS. But then, I really mess things up. As in epic fail.

My folks are always telling me that the most important things in our nine lives are the connections we make with others. Will we learn enough about autism and communication to connect with Teddy? And how do fish sticks and cardboard pizza affect our chances? That’s where things get interesting…

Written by an occupational therapist, Specialty is the second book in the Kitty Wampus series aimed at teaching young readers about inclusion and celebrating the differences that make us special.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Dec 31, 2021

Book preview

Specialty

SPECIALTY

STEVE CALLAHAN

Copyright © 2021 by Steve Callahan

ISBN: 979-8-506-76208-9

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All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, places, and dialogue are fictional and used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Illustrated byAngie Sena

Edited by Laura Boffa

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To become a member of Kitty’s Crew and receive free Kitty Wampus & friends bonus material, head over to https://www.kittyspecial.com

This book is dedicated to everyone in the ever-expanding special needs community, from the kiddos themselves to the parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, and all who support those that need a helping hand.

CONTENTS

1. Opening Day

2. Teddy

3. That’s a Good Sign

4. Seventh Inning Scratch

5. Learning Sign Language

6. Making a Plan

7. Communication Breakdown

8. Differences

9. Dig Deep

10. Picture Board

11. Fish Sticks

12. Learning about Autism

13. Having a Ball

14. Grateful

A Sneak Peek at Kitty’s Next Adventure, Luck

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About the Author

Hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength.

-Unknown

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Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know that so it goes on flying anyway.

-Mary Kay Ash

1

OPENING DAY

"M om, there is no way I’m wearing that! said Kitty Wampus. The that she was referring to was a sunhat her mother had recently purchased at the local Paws R Us. It looked big enough for two heads and proclaimed My Mom Loves Me in embarrassingly large lettering. She had presented it to her just as Kitty was readying to leave for her first adaptive baseball game of the season. Please, Mom, I will wear anything but that. Everyone will make fun of me! How about my Rockies cap?"

All right, Momma Wampus replied as she went to retrieve the cap from Kitty’s bedroom. I guess that will work too.

Kitty told her father, known around town as Big Daddy, I thought this day was never going to come. I can’t wait to try my wheelchair on the AstroTurf.

I thought your team already had a couple of practices? Big Daddy said.

We did, but that was on the old baseball field. They just finished building Galarraga Park about a week ago.

How does your team look so far? her father asked.

We’ve got a fun group, Kitty told him, and there’s a new kitten on the team named Teddy.

Does he use a wheelchair too?

No, our coach told us he has autism, said Kitty. I tried to talk to him at practice the other day. He never looked at me the whole time. I just want to be able to connect with him somehow. I know what it’s like to have people treat you differently, and I don’t want to do that to him. Any suggestions?

Honestly, no, Big Daddy replied. I don’t know much about autism.

Are you two talking about Teddy? asked Momma Wampus as she returned with Kitty’s hat. "His mom