Potty Training
You have not tried my strategy!!! 💁🏽♀️ you don’t know what would work unless you try the strategy!!
My Potty Training Framework:
✅ Collecting Data (behaviors, triggers, patterns)
✅ Building Interoception while creating Wetness Discomfort using plastic underwear covers
✅ Placement-Based Training
✅ Lowering Task Friction
✅ Predictable Routine with small adjustments
✅ Building Independence
Potty training a child with autism who is nonverbal and has intellectual disabilities can be uniquely challenging, but with the right approach, it becomes manageable and rewarding. From my experience, the key lies in observing and understanding your child's specific behaviors, triggers, and patterns. This detailed data collection phase helps tailor the training to their individual needs. An essential aspect that helped my child was focusing on interoception—the ability to recognize internal bodily signals. Using plastic underwear covers to create an uncomfortable sensation of wetness heightened their awareness, making it easier to build this connection between feeling and action. Placement-based training also played a critical role. Consistently bringing the child to the same potty location helped create a predictable environment, reducing anxiety and confusion. I found that lowering task friction by simplifying steps and minimizing distractions made the process smoother. Establishing a consistent, predictable routine with small, gradual adjustments allowed my child to anticipate and accept changes without resistance. Encouraging independence at every stage, even if it meant small victories, boosted their confidence and motivation. In sharing this approach, I want to emphasize the importance of patience and customizing strategies to each child's unique needs. Potty training is not one-size-fits-all, especially for children with autism and developmental differences. With dedication and the right framework, progress is within reach, and every step forward is worth celebrating.
