FoggyRock General Forum

My son didn't potty train until late into his third year.  He just had no clue....By then, we had an in-home ABA program that was staffed with well trained folks who used the Potty Training in a Day method--which shocked me at how well it worked.  Basically, we spent the whole day in the bathroom--all the adults taking turns being there with him, and giving him lots of reinforcers for sitting on the potty.  We read books, sang songs, played games--even brought the tv in for some Sesame Street....And also kept pitchers of his favorite juices and let him drink, drink, drink.....Then, when he  did pee--big, big praise.  Then back on the potty.  By the end of the day, he was leaving the potty for 30 minute breaks etc...and stretched it out over next few days to longer and longer breaks from the potty.  Then, for several weeks, we kept him on a schedule of taking him to the bathroom once every hour....then stretched that out---and eventually, he began to catch on and ask to go.  But that part took (we figure) hundreds of times of us taking him on a schedule.  Really, it was months before he went on his own without our reminders--so the responsibility, for a chunk of time, was totally on us to make it work.  I remember one morning, we were laying in bed, and we heard his little pitter patter of feet get out of bed, walk to the potty and pee totally unprompted.  We were amazed that he had finally picked up on it and knew that everything in life was just going to get better from there!
Here is a link to some books that teach the potty in a day method:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/10 … =0&y=0

I had to take him out of pull ups this year but he is four. He had no idea until last fall. He pees in the potty but not poo. They really have to be ready.

I just read a really good book called Toilet training for individuals with Autism or other Developmental issues by Maria Wheeler, M.ED. I haven't tried it yet but plan on starting again. My ds is 3.5. I am trying to find a good visual schedule to use, anyone have one they would like to share?? Another place I got good info is http://www.classbrain.com/artread/publi … e_20.shtml  I had also recently found out that Medicaid will cover some diapers for children with developmental disabilies after the age of three. We are goin to get our first shipment this week from a medical supply company and they will file w/ ins. You can't use the Autism diagnosis you have to use Developmental delay w/ incontinence (I think). We are getting half diapers half pullups.
Sonya

Age 2 is awfully early to start, but not too early to start him thinking about the process.  You can use social stories to read to him that will help him in that direction.  We're in process now, and Mr. B. is 4.  We've had some periods where he simply made the decision to go in the potty for a week (peeing) and then no longer wanted to do it and I didn't pursue it until recently because of surgeries and a cross-country move that were stress enough.  We're back to it now and using a combination of social story charts that show step-by-step the process coupled with a rewards system.  We have 3 different laminated story charts posted in the bathroom - one for Number 1 (peeing), one for Number 2 (pooping) posted where he can see them sitting on the toilet, and one for step-by-step handwashing that is posted over the sink.  We have a rewards chart which shows the reward and 6 spaces for an "I did it sticker" before earning the reward.  You can find some of these tools on ebay - that's where I found mine, as well as several social stories online in various places.

Also, remember that peeing is much easier to master than pooping for any child whether ASD or not, primarily because of the psychology involved ('if it's solid, it's part of me'), so that will take longer to get a handle on. 

Being a musically-inclined family, I like the kazoo idea and think we'll try it and see what happens!  We can always use it for the accompaniment to the "potty dance" that gets done at our house when he succeeds.