NYC ArchCare Kitchen Worker Authors Children’s Book About Autistic Kid Making Friends To Inspire Empathy, Compassion, Kindness In Next Generation

Editor’s note: The CDC’s estimate, released in 2021, about the incidence of autism in the general population was higher than previously estimated.  The Why Not Me The World podcast explores the experiences of people living with autism and those who are their friends and relatives. Below, you can see our interview.  

Theresa Pendleton has been a part of the kitchen staff at ArchCare for twenty four years.  In that time, she has helped many residents to feel cared for and nourished by the food they serve. She has long talked about writing a children’s book to share her experience of learning that her son, who is now an adult, has autism.  He sees the world differently than others, and he has trouble making friends.  

Theresa wrote this book to help people understand the value of kindness and empathy in interactions with children or adults with a disability.  Whether it be autism or something else, there is great value in learning to understand someone who may be different than you.  Theresa talks about teaching these values at a younger age, thus helping to evolve a kinder, more compassionate humanity going forward. 

Theresa’s book is beloved by many children, and many adults have positively reviewed the book on Amazon.  It seems like it would also be a great addition to any elementary school classroom, assisting youngsters to be able to see through another’s eyes, to have empathy and compassion for someone who appears to be different.  But as Theresa points out, we all are more the same than we are different.  We all want to be loved and cared for, and we all want to have people understand, respect, and value our experiences.  

To put this in perspective, you can see Mister Rogers, both in the video we published about the importance of public broadcasting, here, as well as in the free-to-watch PBS documentary about his life and the lives he was able to touch so beautifully, just by being kind.  In the documentary, he invites a friend of his, a young boy with a physical disability requiring him to use a wheelchair to move around.  You can see the original meeting on Mister Rogers Neighborhood, as well as his introduction of Mister Rogers at the latter’s induction into the Hall of Fame in 1998.  

Theresa Pendleton’s book will help inspire young people to look past a person’s disability and try to be their friend instead of judging them or being mean.  

From the original announcement by ArchCare: 

What happens when a dedicated healthcare kitchen worker takes her personal journey as a mother of a son with autism and turns it into a tool for empathy?

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, ArchCare has been sharing the inspiring story of Theresa Pendleton, a long-time kitchen staff member at ArchCare’s Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center. Theresa recently authored her first children’s book, “E.Z. Makes Friends,” a story inspired by her son’s diagnosis that teaches children the values of kindness and understanding.

Last week, Theresa shared her message of inclusion with the residents of Mother Cabrini Hospital, bridging the gap between generations through the power of storytelling.

Why this matters now:

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• National Relevance: April is Autism Awareness Month, and news outlets are looking for local stories that move beyond statistics to show real-world impact.
• Human Interest: Theresa’s transition from the kitchen to published authorship is a “hidden gem” story of talent within the local workforce.

Banner Image: EZ Makes Friends cover. Image Credit – Theresa Pendleton