Autism and Cleanliness: Frequently Asked Questions from Parents

Our child uses the toilet at school, but refuses to do so at home. What should we do? It may be difficult for a child with ASD to do something at home that they learned to do at school. It may be helpful to teach them to use a different toilet at school. Adopt the same words and ideas used by teachers at school. You may need to start with small steps at home. As a first step, simply enter the bathroom. Gradually add steps until they use the toilet at home. Practice toilet visits in different bathrooms. Go to the toilet in stores and other people's homes. We thought we had a good potty training program for our daughter, but it's not working. What should we do now? There are several steps to follow. Make sure there's no medical reason. Talk to your pediatrician to see if she's constipated or to ask about possible dietary changes. Review your bathroom schedule to make sure you take her when she is likely to urinate or defecate. Consider changing the reward. Make sure your daughter likes the reward. It's helpful to review the type of reward at least every 3 months, but you may need to do it more often. I've been working on potty training all weekend, but we haven't made any progress. How long will this process take? Some people take a long time to master potty training. It's best to stay relaxed and patient. There's no deadline for potty training. Teaching should only occupy a small part of your life. You can take a break and try again when you have more energy and when your son seems ready. Remember that toilet training can be difficult. Practice at a time that's convenient for you and your family. This way, you'll have the energy to teach this important skill over the long term. Our family has tried to potty train our son, but he's still in diapers. What should we do? You may benefit from the guidance of a professional with specialized training. There are doctors, psychologists, special educators, speech-language pathologists, behavior analysts/specialists, and occupational therapists who can help children with ASD learn to toilet train. These professionals may be able to help your family achieve intensive toilet training. This is a method that can be successful with children with ASD, but it must be monitored by a professional. Remember that it can take a child a long time to master this complicated and important skill.