Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Issues

Easy-to-read bulleted lists offer more than 200 do’s and don’ts, supported by over 50 real-life case examples! Toilet training can become a battleground for caregivers and children alike, especially if the child has autism or other developmental challenges. In this book, Maria Wheeler offers a detailed roadmap for success. She stresses the importance of visual cues, such as picture schedules representing the steps of the toileting routine. Other crucial elements are repetition, rewards, and teamwork with teachers if the child is in school. You will find many original and commonsense solutions for transitioning children from diapers to underpants, stopping “repeat flushing,” monitoring fluid intake, coping with a noisy bathroom, using Social Stories, and much more. Wheeler’s methods help keep the process as positive as possible for all involved, so children don’t feel upset or ashamed about going to the bathroom. You will learn how to: Gauge readiness Identify and reduce sensory challenges Help the child overcome fears and anxieties Develop a “habit training” routine Teach proper use of the toilet, toilet paper, sink, etc. Facilitate the transition from diapers to underwear Deal with toileting in unfamiliar environments And more!

Easy-to-read bulleted lists offer more than 200 do’s and don’ts, supported by over 50 real-life case examples! Toilet training can become a battleground for caregivers and children alike, especially if the child has autism or other developmental challenges. In this book, Maria Wheeler offers a detailed roadmap for success. She stresses the importance of visual cues, such as picture schedules representing the steps of the toileting routine. Other crucial elements are repetition, rewards, and teamwork with teachers if the child is in school. You will find many original and commonsense solutions for transitioning children from diapers to underpants, stopping “repeat flushing,” monitoring fluid intake, coping with a noisy bathroom, using Social Stories, and much more. Wheeler’s methods help keep the process as positive as possible for all involved, so children don’t feel upset or ashamed about going to the bathroom. You will learn how to: Gauge readiness Identify and reduce sensory challenges Help the child overcome fears and anxieties Develop a “habit training” routine Teach proper use of the toilet, toilet paper, sink, etc. Facilitate the transition from diapers to underwear Deal with toileting in unfamiliar environments And more!

Maria Wheeler, M.Ed., has spent more than twenty years in the field of psychology and special education, with an emphasis on neurobehavioral disorders, specific learning disabilities, and Applied Behavior Analysis. She’s been a classroom teacher, behavior specialist, and director of behavioral services for residential treatment centers serving adults and children with neurobehavioral disorders and developmental disabilities. Together with Dr. Beth Fouse, she co-authored one of the leading manuals on behavior, A Treasure Chest of Behavioral Strategies for Individuals with Autism.