It began with a sick kitten.
When behavioral analyst Andrea Gamble’s cat died, she began fostering cats. One sick kitten she brought into her clinic captured the heart of the teens and children she served. As Andrea began bringing cats in regularly, an idea took hold: a cat cafe offering meaningful employment.
Founded by Andrea, AUsome Cat Cafe and Rescue is a nonprofit cat rescue in Carrollton aimed to provide job training skills to neurodivergent adults and teens. While the location is undetermined, the cafe is set to open this summer.
Andrea has worked with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities for more than 20 years. She owns Rainbow Kidz in Carrollton, providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy — a structured and individualized treatment for individuals with autism and developmental disorders.
Over the years, Andrea noticed adults with autism unable to get hired or remain employed. As she brought cats into her work for people to interact with, she was inspired to create a cat cafe a year and a half ago.
“[At my clinic,] they loved [being] around the cats and they did really well with them,” Andrea said. “I thought [a cat cafe] would be a good opportunity for them to be able to learn job skills in a setting that’s comfortable for them.”
At the cafe, workers’ duties will include working with animals, interacting with customers, handling food and beverages and performing janitorial services.
“There is a stigma behind working with disabled individuals,” manager Promise Holmes said. “I hope people see that autism isn’t anything to be concerned about. They can learn just like everyone else.”
There will be an entrance fee to come in, and visitors will be provided with a mug with their logo on it. Visitors can keep the mug and are able to use them to get free coffee. Soft drinks and prepackaged food will also be available for purchase.
To create an inclusive atmosphere, soft music and cat compilation videos will be played. There will be a limited number of people who can come in at a time so that employees do not get overwhelmed. A coloring nook with coloring books will be available for kids.
Andrea hopes to open business in the same shopping center as her clinic, allowing the adults and teens she works with to transition between therapy and job skill training time.
“Our hope is to find what they really enjoy the most,” Andrea said. “[Then] we can help them find job placements in the community where they’ll already have the training.”
At Hebron, special education specialist Susan Lappin said students receiving special education have found job opportunities at establishments such as Kroger, Home Depot and the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Special education teachers teach students skills that are approachable, such as folding clothes and waiting tables.
“Job training gives individuals an opportunity to be in the world,” Lappin said. “It gives the world an opportunity to see who they are and what they’re capable of. A lot of people assume these kiddos can’t do anything because of their disabilities. Job training gives them the ability to be successful.”
Although the cat cafe hasn’t opened yet, cats are available for adoption under AUsome Cat Cafe and Rescue. They can be adopted through their website, and merchandise is available to purchase. AUsome Cat Cafe is accepting donations.
“Learning job skills in an environment where [neurodivergent individuals] can flourish and do well is ideal,” Andrea said. “There is a big need for job training. Depending on whatever they end up enjoying, we hope to find a placement for them outside of the cafe to continue on.”