West Nyack, NY– Children’s book author Katherine Magnoli visited BRIDGES’ Independence Café – A Unique Boutique at the Palisades Center Mall on Sunday, December 3, 2023, to highlight her KatGirl series of children’s books.
Magnoli, an inclusion advocate, initiated her advocacy journey by creating “The Adventures of KatGirl,” a series of children’s adventure books featuring a superhero in a wheelchair named KatGirl. The character empowered kids facing bullying due to physical differences. Initially addressing disability issues, the series evolved to promote inclusion for all those who may feel excluded at times.
Born with a birth defect affecting her spine but not her mind, Katherine addressed disability and acceptance in her books. The series also includes “Pete the Private Eye,” a collection of short stories about a legally blind boy named Pete who dedicated his days to solving mysteries. Katherine is the Founder and President of KatGirl and Friends Inc., an organization committed to educating children about inclusion through her book series.
Magnoli’s advocacy extended to her role as Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2017. She developed The Abilities Program, utilized during Disability Awareness Month and Inclusion Week in 2018. She played a key role in creating beach access in Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, and Surfside communities in Florida. Katherine joined the Miami Inclusion Alliance to raise awareness about abuse against People with Disabilities and received the Idelio Valdez Advocacy and Leadership Award from the Florida Developmental Disability Council in 2021.
Expressing excitement about Katherine’s visit, BRIDGES CEO Carlos Martinez stated, “BRIDGES was thrilled to welcome Katherine to The Independence Café – A Unique Boutique to share her experiences and discuss the themes of her whimsical stories. December 3rd is also known as International Day of People with Disabilities; having Katherine join us lent to the celebration.”
BRIDGES’ Independence Café opened on July 1, 2021 and serves as the storefront to BRIDGES headquarters in the Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack. The boutique offers unique gift items crafted by and for people with disabilities, Veterans, and individuals formerly involved in the justice system, including scented candles, soaps, artwork, cards, and clothing. Founded in 1987, BRIDGES is a community-based, peer-driven, cross-disability, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocacy and leadership for people with disabilities, Veterans, and those formerly involved in the justice system.
To learn more about the author and her visit to the Café, visit the organization’s YouTube page here.