Autism / Autism Spectrum Support Group
Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers.
As I have said before my son jis 3 1/2 and was diagnosed with Autism a year ago. I have tried potty training once a few months ago but the things I tried did not work. I was hoping to get any advice on the issue. I have three other children but they did not have Autism and shows the normal signs of being ready to get the diaper off. My Taylor does not show any of those signs. He doesn't quite understand the concept of going in the toilet rather than in his diaper. He is in preschool and they suggest pull-ups but the day care that he goes to does not suggest pull-ups. My plan is to gather as much information about different techniques I can try and work on them this summer because we will both be out of school and I will be able to devote all my time to working with him to get potty trained. Any one with ideas or things that have worked with their children would be great. Thank you in advance.
Paula
Paula
Good Luck, and it will happen in time.... really.. give you both a bit of slack, and it will work out....really...
1- Always use the realy toilet with a insert. Because alot of children on the spectrum have sensory isues and the lights, flushing off the toilet, water runing and diferent smells can set them of. If you start them on a potty they can regress when you interduce the toilet.
2- Always teach them to sit before standing to pee even the boys. Because when they have to poo they have to sit and if they are sitting to pee it is more likely they will also poo.
3- Rewad them at first every time they sit,even if nothing happens. Them after they sit with out a probelm reward 2 things like sitting and pee. Them countinue to increase. Make shore you reward as sooon as they are done. Stickers, mini MM, smarties extra are great but only give them for this reson no matter what. I use stickers with Eddie.
4- Tech them to request they have to go the full filling. Give him water of juice what ever he likes to drink every 20 minutes and take him to the washroom every 20 minutes so he now what it fills like to be full and mabe he will learn to request the washroom.
4- creat a request card even if he is verbal. Take a picture of him in the washroom or even of just the washroom and laminate it. them make a few and place them where he is most often. So when he needs to go he can grab it and show it to you. This realy works. My son has full speach but does not now how to tell me when he needs to go.
5- Make a visual board with the steps for pee pee and poo poo.
Belive it or not there are 12 steps for pee pee and 14 for poo poo.
What I did was took pictures of Eddie doing all the steps and made a board and placed it in the bathroom it realy helps. Don't forget to include going in to the washroom and also out. Also opening and closing door. Also make one for washing hands. I gor Eddie to do it when he was haveing a realy good day.
6- What I also have done when he can hold it for more then a houre is I put a pair of real underwear in sid the pull up and he fills wet if he pee pees and tells me. Make shore you cover your coatchs, painters plastic is great and sheep.
7. Make shore when he is sitting in the toilet to teach him to hold his penies down with one or two fingueres.
Well I hope some of this can help you I have done all this also have been potty training Eddie for about 2 years but still he is in pull-up. We have manny dry days but there is still many days with acident, espicealy if there is any change in routine, or if he is haveing a bad day. Remember alot of pateints is the key one. DOn't get mad if he does not do anything or had acidents because this will make him regress always give positive reinforcement never negative.
Good Luck.
We had a big chair that was everybody's favorite that we had to throw out once she was potty trained as if she got mad she would go pee on it. I swear it was like having a un-neutered male cat! Nobody was allowed to be mad over any of these episodes either. I am a firm believer in catching a child being good.
My dil made the big break through (she is so awesome with kids) with Miss S outside in the summer. She found Miss S would pee outside and then we just slowly transitioned her to the bathroom (and yes that involved a potty chair).
Just as teaching her to go into a store and leave without a melt down was hard and time consuming it was well worth the time and effort in the end.
Night training was another matter and she decided she needed to be night trained at 6 yrs old, many accidents but she was trying.
BTW my job became helping Miss S and her sister. I loved my job and have been begged to go back and it maybe that I will have to this summer (hubby's contract is coming up this August). Not everybody can do this and it certainly hasn't been easy either.
Hugs to all going through this,
Mary
You need a doll that pee's. You tell him that you are having a little party for him and the baby. You start with snacks and lots to drink. Have him feed the baby. Then you tell him you think the baby needs to go potty. Show him how the baby goes potty. Then celebrate throw confetty dance and then drink more.
Once the baby has had more liquid ask him to show the babydoll (teach the baby) how to go potty. When he does then huge celebration and then call his hero (sponge bob, superman who ever) Obviously arrange this in advance and when you call they tell him how proud they are of him.
You need to celebrate everytime he goes all day and maybe up to four days but then he should be good to go. This worked for us in 24 hours.
I hope I've summarized it ok but really check out the website since it has been a few years for us but it worked amazingly well!
Good luck!!