Self-care in toileting is one of the areas that persons with autism frequently have difficulty managing and are often confused by training. In developing a toilet training plan, critical factors include teaching the skill where it will be used, considering modesty concerns, communicating clear expectations, ruling out medical problems, and…

A toilet training method for autistic children is described, involving selection of one optimum time per day and challenging the child to urinate. Other toileting times are added, and eventually the youngster is rewarded for remaining dry. Appended are a training data sheet and instructions on using time-out to reduce severe problems. (Author/SW)

The use of systems analysis may help child developmental specialists improve the success rates of toilet training programs with developmentally disabled children. Such a systems analysis includes the sociocultural, family, and/or individual ecosystems of the individual. Two detailed case studies of mentally retarded elementary school age children…