Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Importance of Toilet Training
- Characteristics of autism that influence toilet training
- Impact on home, family and community
- Impact on school and learning
- Impact on social relationships
Chapter 2: Determining Readiness
- Chronological age as a factor
- The issue of mental age as a part of readiness
- Awareness levels in readiness
- Physiological factors to consider
- Other readiness indicators
Chapter 3: Developing a Toileting Routine
- Developing toileting schedules
- Communication structures
- Pre- and post-toileting rituals
- Fluid intake
- Undressing and dressing
- Flushing
- Handwashing
Chapter 4: Dressing for the Occasion
- Diapers or underpants
- Outerwear
- Other items and equipment needed
- Sensory issues related to clothing and other items used
Chapter 5: Habit Training
- When is habit training the appropriate option
- Determining a reasonable schedule
- Developing a routine
- Readiness for spontaneous toileting
Chapter 6: Teaching Continence
- Bladder control
- Bowel control
Chapter 7: Communicating the Need to Use the Toilet
- Alternate forms of communication
- Availability of communication
- How to respond to communication efforts
- When communication demands are a step backward
Chapter 8: When Toilet Training is Successful
- When to reinforce
- How to reinforce
- The importance of environmental structure
Chapter 9: Toileting in Unfamiliar Environments
- Locating restroom in new environments
- Communicating the need to toilet
- Adjusting toileting routines to new situations
- Survival kits for community outings
Chapter 10: Nighttime Training
- When to begin nighttime training
- How to teach nighttime continence
- Special aids
Chapter 11: Support Strategies
- Modeling Stories that teach
- Preteaching
Chapter 12: Common Problems (and Solutions) Associated with Toilet Training Persons with Autism
- Fear of the bathroom
- Fear of the toilet
- Repeated flushing
- Negative reactions to taking away diapers
- Failure to void in the toilet
- Failure to have a bowel movement in the toilet
- Urinating outside of the toilet bowl
- Smearing feces
- Resistance to using toilet paper
- Using too much toilet paper
- Resistance to washing hands
- Needs frequent cues to complete routines
- Resistance to using unfamiliar toileting facilities
- Is toilet trained at home, but not at school
- Is toilet trained at school, but not at home
- Regression or setbacks
- Data collection form for toilet training
- An example social story—Using the Toilet
Glossary
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