Kathleen Mazzola Beals Abarca
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kateabarca.bsky.social
Kathleen Mazzola Beals Abarca
@kateabarca.bsky.social
1.9K followers 490 following 770 posts
Retired Pediatric Occupational Therapist specializing in Deafblindness. 25 years serving children with multiple, complex needs for support. Mother of autistic adult son who sings karaoke every Saturday night. Boycotting companies that eliminate DEI/A.
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kateabarca.bsky.social
I, too, enjoy practicing to be bread.
On a kitchen table, a black cat sleeps in an oblong basket (intended for bread). She completely fills the basket and the end of her tail drapes over the side.
November 25, 2025 at 12:09 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
This gorgeous rose grew in my yard in spite of me. I hope it helps you feel a little more hopeful.
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Count me in for funny hats!
A woman in a purple top. She is wearing an orange crocheted hat that looks like a dog's face. It has braids that end in fringe.
October 9, 2025 at 11:25 AM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Little Ruthie used to love sitting on a tutu.
A black cat sits on a rainbow colored tutu. She has green eyes, and her ears are pointing up.
October 9, 2025 at 12:46 AM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Je suis prest.
Photo of an adult size chicken costume hanging on a door. Brown with yellow lower legs, head, and neck. Darker brown oval on belly. Red comb and waddle.
October 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
My kitty used to like drinking from the faucet in the kitchen. When she got a fountain from Santa Claus, she drank from it every day. Gonzo, you are a good boy. I'm sure momb is happy to share with you. ❤️🐈‍⬛❤️
Black cat, seen from the back, sitting in a white kitchen sink. Having just drunk water from the chrome faucet, now she is rubbing her head on it. On the counter to her right side, there is an orange base and a white basket full of basil from the garden.
September 28, 2025 at 9:52 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
My husband and I.
Halloween 2024
Two adults dressed all in red. Large "gold" crosses at their chests. Flat red hats. Black plastic glasses, fake noses, and moustaches. They are dressed up as Minty Python's "Spanish Inquisition" for Halloween.
September 27, 2025 at 5:17 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
My almost 36yo autistic son just called me to ask if he should "take the medicine to not be autistic anymore." I told him "NO. NEVER. I LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE."

How DARE they? Those effing CHARLATANS! Making my only son feel "broken" - "sick" - "less than". I'm crying. Heartsick.
On a green, grassy hill, a dark-haired toddler boy in red pants and blue and white sweater is running. He has his left arm extended while he holds an Easter basket in front of him in his right hand. He is smiling, enjoying his first outdoor Easter egg hunt. A young man with dark hair is sitting at a blue table at an outdoor music venue. He smiles while holding a clear cup of a blue drink. Young man in black and white T-shirt wearing white sunglasses is holding a microphone to his mouth, singing karaoke.
September 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
"They." Am I "they"?
Where do the mermaids stand?
The photo is of a story by Robert Fulghum. It tells of him leading a game called Giants, Wizards, and Dwarfs. Each child must choose one of these roles to portray in the game. While all of the other children are going to stand with their chosen group, a little girl goes up to the leader and asks, "Where do the Mermaids stand?" She does not feel that she fits in to any of the other three defined groups.
September 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
@gtconway.bsky.social

I love when my feed is ironic.
August 30, 2025 at 1:56 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
and has sung karaoke every Saturday night for the past 9 years. He is an 80s Metal head-bangin' rock & roller and has made many friends in the local karaoke community. 😎

He was diagnosed with Autism at age 3, but he was Autistic from the moment he was born...and I could not be more proud of him.
Dark haired young man wearing white sunglasses is holding a microphone in his right hand. He is singing a rock & roll karaoke song. A smiling young man with dark hair and dark eyes. He is wearing a black and white T-shirt. He is sitting at a blue table, holding a clear plastic cup with a blue drink in it.
August 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
VACCINES. DO. NOT. CAUSE. AUTISM.
Ask me how I know.
Photo of a little boy about 2 years old. Black hair, dark eyes, wearing a white long sleeve shirt with blue trim on the collar. His right hand rests on a table top, and his chin rests on his left hand. He is smiling.
August 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
August 17, 2025 at 8:09 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Seen today in Ingles grocery store on Highway 9 in Boiling Springs, SC. "Free fruit for kids" while parents/caregivers shop. What a great idea! Thank you, Ingles!
A wooden display in a grocery store. Three baskets of fruit: red apples, bananas, and oranges. On a black chalkboard below the baskets is written: "Free fruit for kids. Let your kids enjoy a free piece of fruit while you shop. Limit one per kid. Prewashed apples."
July 23, 2025 at 10:13 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
If my Ruthie had not already crossed the Rainbow Bridge, she definitely would have asked for his phone number.
A young female black cat side lying on top of a white refrigerator. Her green eyes are open, her pointy black ears are up, and there is a tiny patch of white fur visible at her throat. A bouquet of flowers sits behind her, and a white calla lily rests on her right shoulder.
July 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Did someone say "cables"?
Black cat in a cardboard box with only the cat's head poking out. The cat is lying on her back inside the box, so her face is upside down in the photo. Her green eyes are open and she has a small white "bib" at her throat.
July 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Carrot Cake recipe available at cookingclassy.com
for those, like me, who care to indulge.
Photo of a piece of carrot cake: two layers, white frosting, with a sprinkle of chopped nuts on top.
July 14, 2025 at 9:27 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Back half (with tail) of a black cat. Front half of the cat is in an oblong cardboard box, with the back half sticking out of the box.
July 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
"'Blah,' said Toad."
I'm here for the irony.
Photo is a screenshot of my BlueSky feed. Under a post picturing and quoting the WH press secretary, the next post in my feed is a quote from the "Frog and Toad bot": "'Blah,' said Toad."
May 28, 2025 at 7:49 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Sing it loud and sing it proud!
A young man about 34 years old, with black hair, wearing white rimmed sunglasses, holds a microphone to his mouth as he sings a rock and roll song.
April 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Even if vaccines did cause autism - which they decidedly DO NOT - having an autistic child is WAAAAAYYYY BETTER than having a DEAD child who has died from a totally preventable disease! Ask me how I know.
A young man with black hair, wearing a black, gray, and white striped T-shirt, sits at an outdoor table. He holds a drink in his right hand while smiling for the camera. He looks very happy - and he is!
April 11, 2025 at 12:56 AM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Sunrise over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.
January 1, 2025
Photo of sunrise over the ocean, light blue sky, orange light along the horizon line, and dark blue ocean. Waves are calm. Foreground shows white fence of hotel balcony, from which photo was taken.
April 9, 2025 at 12:03 AM
kateabarca.bsky.social
Spartanburg, SC
A lady in a wide brim hat and sunglasses holds a sign that says "SO BAD EVEN INTROVERTS ARE HERE."
April 6, 2025 at 8:52 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
DANG it, Faulkner! NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Two adults wearing long red robes, wide brim red hats, and plastic (fake) eyeglasses with fake noses and black moustaches. Halloween costumes portraying Monty Python's "Spanish Inquisition."
April 6, 2025 at 7:14 PM
kateabarca.bsky.social
When I grow up I want to be Italian bread.
March 21, 2025 at 12:29 AM