Some ideas for you..

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Home : 2007 : April : 21

Some ideas for you..
By Elizabeth Ann

First off, you are on the right track by observing, so give yourself a pat on the back and persevere! Second, here are a few suggestions for potty training: we use plastic gloves and gently facilitate the process by encouraging
the child in a firm but not stern voice to sit on the toilet. If the child gets up and resists, the child is further encouraged by helping remove clothes etc. - one of our students had a routine of removing all of his clothes but he did learn to go to the bathroom this way and eventually we changed his "routine" by telling him "Pants and underwear only" etc. and sometimes saying "Ms.

T.A. does not take off socks. Ok to leave socks on." etc. If the child responds well to visual and spoken cues, I have noted that simple directions (two to three words work best). Focus by using child's name (notice if this child has a problem with noise - then speak softly to focus - some autistic children are said to have super hearing or loudness sensitivity) "Please - pull down pants, sit down, sit back, scoot back" or "Sit down" etc. (one please is good for most directions to show respect). At first, eventhough you always respect the child's privacy, you may have to repeat the child's name for every direction to focus and if a boy encourage the child to "push down" etc., get down on their level works well too. (We can look like monsters looming above them!)
It is a lot of trial and error but patience and understanding is the key and once some piece of the skill is mastered, privacy and respect are essential to ensuring positive repeat performance. (Reward may work as well ..."Go potty, get computer time".) Choices for learning that work for us : TEAACH tasks, picture cards with three or two post-it note pull off identifiers, set tasks to music or have music playing in background, 2-3 choice reading questions - also post -its to pull off choices. Laminated photographs with simple word choices - girl puts on coat etc., boy eats cereal, puzzles and semsory exploration.