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Planning is key for girl with autism
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE © St. Petersburg Times, published April 26, 2001 "Tons of research" helped Caity Bryant's mother plan therapies and strategies to help the 6-year-old. The girl's story will be highlighted during the All Children's Hospital Telethon. INVERNESS -- The preparation paid off. Caity Bryant, 6, was ready to handle the videographer from All Children's Hospital. He was at Inverness Primary School Monday to film her in Kristin Stringer's first-grade classroom for an appearance on the All Children's Hospital Telethon. The telethon will be done in partnership with the Children's Miracle Network June 2 and 3. Caity, who has a diagnosis within the spectrum of autism, has difficulty accepting changes in her routine. Her mother, Marianne Bryant, prepared her for the videographer by writing a social story, a breakdown of a situation into steps, to let Caity know what was going to happen and how to behave when it did. When Bill Greene, the videographer and Ann Miller, media relations manager from All Children's Hospital arrived, Caity and her classmates, with whom she had shared her story, were able to go about their regular business of a math lesson while mostly ignoring the visitors. Marianne and Carey Bryant began to notice behaviors in Caity that were different from other children her age when she was about 21/2 years old. She was close to 3 when she received the diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder -- not otherwise specified. "She falls under the autism spectrum," her mother said. With a diagnosis in hand, Marianne Bryant did "tons of research," she said. "I started going to as many workshops and reading as many books as I could." She learned about and tried therapies and strategies to help Caity deal with her behaviors. One of these was the use of pictures so she could see, as well as be told, how to behave. "We really taught her to control her angers and make good choices through visuals," Marianne Bryant said. Marianne Bryant is very pleased with Caity's progress at Inverness Primary School. She said the teachers are very willing to try the various strategies. "Inverness Primary School has been a wonderful support," she said. At about 51/2, Caity began receiving speech and occupational therapies at the Sertoma Center for Developmental and Rehabilitative Services in Citrus Springs, an outreach center of All Children's Hospital. "Sertoma has been an answer to a prayer for giving Caity the support services that she needs to develop to her full potential," Marianne Bryant said. "She wouldn't be where she's at without them." Her success story is so promising she has been chosen as one of 17 All Children's patients to be highlighted at the telethon. The footage shot at Inverness Primary School and some taken at her home and at Sertoma will be part of the broadcast. Caity and her family also will appear live on the two-day WFLA program. The family, Marianne Bryant said, will talk about Caity's progress and their plans for her. She hopes, too, that the telethon will highlight the outreach centers and "illustrate what the centers do for families." Marianne Bryant is a member of a local organization called Citrus Autism Support Society which meets monthly to provide information and support to families with members who have autism or related disabilities. Parents and professionals are welcome. For information, call Bryant at 726-9242.
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