potty training

[soconfused]

Does any 1 have advice on potty training an autistic child , my son is 5 and still in nappies?

[tigerthecat]

Well... It really isn't any different to training an non asd child the difference is you might start later (as you are) and it might take longer. It also requires a plan and consistency. So whats the sitauation at school? nappies and pads that children wear today prevent them from feeling their urine, which is usually the toiletting which can be tackled first. You will need to put him in pants and other clothes which are eay to take down and then be in a situation where you can keep taking him to sit on a toilet/potty. If school cannot do this you could wait till the holiadys but I know of children who has been trained either soley in school or just at home. Reward your child when he is sucessful.

As children with asd are visual learners it may be (and is remarkably common for children with asd) to not understand the how to go and what to do. You could make a visual schedule with photographs or pictures that tell the story of how to go to the toilet. Show him each pic and teach him what to do ie pull down yopur trousers, next pull down your pants, sit on the toilet etc and break each part down and teach him these.

In addittion you could backward chain the toiletting - so that he does the last part of the sequence ie pulls up his pants and when he can do that bit you move him to do the next to last part of the sequence.

There is more that would help you and I suggest the NAS who will have more information/publications. There should be someone within you authority edaucation or/and health (including camhs and OT) who should also be able to support you. Make sure you have advice from someone who knows about asd. hope that helps a little. Good luck, asd is a hidden disability and I know how hard the challenge is for you. From my experience asd is hard for everyone - because of the unpredicatability of the person who has asd.