Toileting training in a special education classroom is one of the most difficult topics and goals to work toward.

If parents are not working on this goal at home, the progress and final outcome may be delayed significantly. Furthermore, many students who haven’t been toilet trained by the time they enter elementary school often display some level of anxiety-driven behavior around the bathroom. It can be the sound and visual context of the bathroom (nothing like your own bathroom at home). The ventilation system often creates loud noises in the bathroom.

More importantly, educators have to look at the skills that are involved in toileting.

Can she open/close the bathroom door?
Does he have enough strength to pull up/down his pants?

1. Toileting Steps: Video Modeling

The use of video to prime a child with autism for toileting is one of the effective ways to approach it. (Bainbridge, Nicole; Brenda Smith Myles, 1999) This is not a one-time deal- bring up the topic consistently in a planned way.  I like to group kids into 2-3. Boys and Girls group separately if possible. Watching videos in a small group can be very motivating for our kids. I can pause anywhere to emphasize certain steps of toileting.

2. Social Stories for Potty Training

 autismwhisper.com

3. Toilet Visual Sequences: Task analysis

4. Potty Training Data Collection Sheet