How to Potty Train a Child with Autism

Potty training any child can be difficult, but potty training a child with autism is usually 10 times harder. I grew tired of people staring at my son or looking at me like I was a bad mother when they realized that my preschooler was still wearing a diaper or a pull-up. It also became increasingly harder to find a preschool or daycare that would accept a child that was not toilet trained.

Chances are that if you are reading this article, someone you know or love has autism. My son is now almost 6 years old and we conquered potty training and so can you. Following are some tips that helped me and hopefully they will help you too.

1. Movies and Books on Potty Training
Since almost all kids with autism are extremely visual, this is a good first step to introducing them to the whole concept. You can find movies and books on potty training for very cheap on ebay, half.com, and amazon. Most kids won't initially watch the whole video because it is something different to them. Try to put it in even for a few minutes at a time until they can eventually sit through the whole thing. This is great modeling for them because they can see other kids using the potty and they can also visually see the steps. Some of my favorite picks are "Potty Power", "It's Potty Time", and "Bear in the Big Blue House- Potty Time With Bear". These movies include some really catchy songs like "Super Duper Pooper" which kids love and brings a bit of humor to the situation.

2. Pictures or Pecs
Another extremely important step, the more visuals for the child the better. There are many great sites where you can print potty and bathroom pictures for free. You can even find pictures with pee and poop in the potty. While that is not necessary for a "typical" child it is very important for a child with autism to see the exact details. You can even find bathroom sequence pecs so that your child can see every step for going to the bathroom. Try to show your child the picture before taking them into the bathroom. They may resist or even have a meltdown when they see the picture, but try to be consistent.