The Matchmaker Bride (The Bride Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

through substance abuse. It wasn’t easy. Still, according to the girl’s background history, she’d come a long way since being diagnosed at age two. A miracle. The earlier autism spectrum disorder was caught, with the right kind of therapy it can be treated as the brain develops. Sophie heard that the little girl had no social skills prior and now, from the assistance of an unknown wealthy relative she’d been given the best treatment with a one-on-one practically live-in therapist. The therapist usually took the child to centres and camp on behalf of the family. She wished she could have adopted the girl herself. She could relate very much to the little girl. Though she’d herself had been diagnosed later in life, she’d managed to find ways to pay for her therapy to help her with her social skills and her habits. It’s almost unnoticeable. But more education needs to be out there. Sophie was living an ordinary life by most standards. Of course, she had high functioning Asperger’s condition. She mostly felt awkward in a lot of social situations, mostly with adults though.  
     
“Hi, Bria ! How are you today?”
     
“Fine,” the little girl replied after pausing for a moment.
     
Sophie pulled out a chart, unaware that another parent was watching her. “Well, let’s look at our schedule today, Bria . Hmm…” Sophie pulled out pictures on a Velcro sheet of paper and watched as the girl’s eyes glowed. The pictures were of   various activities and cartoons.
     
“Okay, so first, we’ll sing the hello song. Then, we’ll play with the arts and craft, then we’ll play games, then we’ll eat lunch, then we’ll say goodbye.”
     
Sophie’s smile was infectious and seemed to reach the little girl’s heart as she smiled and clapped and flapped   her   hands in excitement.
     
    The little girl pulled out the first picture of the song and pinned it on the board.
     
    “Wow, you seem really good with the children,” a parent nearby had commented. She was new to the centre. There were a dozen kids with caregivers or teachers in the play room the size of a gym while other parents chose to watch behind the one-way glass in the next room to see how their child interacted and worked in the program.
     
    “Oh, thank you,” Sophie said, blushing. “Children with autism respond quite well to a well-scheduled day. It’s fun to incorporate activities they enjoy as well as routine ones. I can make a board for   you later for your child.”
     
    “Oh, my thank you. Are you going to be joining us later at the Annual Pool Party and Barbecue?”
     
    “Most likely.”
     
           “It should be a blast for the kids and the adults. You’re full time staff, right?”
     
    Sophie felt her stomach twist, she could only wish. “Well actually, I’m a trained volunteer and a Masters student. I hope to specialize in working with children with autism in the future.”
     
    “Well, you are darn good at it. Best of luck with your studies.”
     
    “Thank you.”
     
    Sophie got down on her knees enthusiastically to finish her activities with her assigned child for the day. She wondered if the therapist was there today or if the child’s guardian would be present. She was doing so well at the new centre that she hoped they could at least see behind the glass window. Either way she was going to do a detailed report and summary for the guardian to follow through with home therapy after the therapist was gone. Surely the guardian would need additional information that the centre provided as a complimentary to the traditional behavioural therapy.
     
    Carlos could not believe what he was seeing on the other side of the one way glass. The therapist had encouraged him to drop by Macy’s House to see how Bria interacted with other children and adults at the new facility. He was impressed with the layout and the program but especially the way Bria seemed so happy and smiled and clapped often. Bria was really