Toilet training is possible when we work as a team!

“They Told Me My Son Would Never Be Potty Trained”

I’ve met many parents who believe it is too late—or impossible—to potty train their child.

Some were told by pediatricians or therapists that their child would wear diapers for the rest of their lives.

I was told the same thing when my son was only two years old.

My son has autism and is nonverbal. For years, he also suffered from severe chronic constipation. By four years old, his condition had become so serious that he required an intestinal wash procedure performed by a pediatric gastrointestinal specialist at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi.

When we began ABA therapy, I shared one of my biggest goals with our BCBA: I wanted my son to become toilet trained.

Not only for practical reasons—but because I knew it would give him greater independence, dignity, and confidence.

Together, we created a plan.

We used his favorite candy as positive reinforcement whenever he successfully used the toilet. Was candy the perfect reinforcement? Maybe not. But it worked for him, and sometimes parents need to do what is effective and realistic.

We also followed a strict timed schedule, taking him to the restroom every ten minutes with frequent prompting and reminders.

The process was not instant.

It took about a month before he began going independently. Even then, he still needed reminders to flush the toilet, pull up his pants, and wash his hands.

But little by little, he learned.

And today, he is fully toilet trained.

When I later became a special education teacher, toilet training became one of my classroom priorities.

My two teaching assistants fully supported the process, and together we helped several students make incredible progress.

Every child was different.

One student was terrified of the sound of the toilet flushing, so we avoided flushing while he was still in the restroom.

Another student cried every time he sat on the toilet—but despite the tears, he still successfully used it, and eventually the crying decreased.

One seven-year-old student learned to use the restroom independently in only three weeks.

These experiences taught me something important:

Children with disabilities can learn toileting skills when they are given patience, consistency, and the right support.

Tips That Helped My Son and My Students Become Toilet Trained

Address underlying medical concerns first

Chronic constipation or diarrhea can make toilet training extremely difficult.

Many parents do not realize that diarrhea can actually be a sign of severe constipation. Some children begin withholding bowel movements because using the restroom is painful. Over time, this can lead to impacted stool, stretched intestines, and serious medical complications.

This was something our family experienced personally.

My biggest recommendation is to seek help from a pediatric gastrointestinal specialist if your child struggles with chronic bowel issues. X-rays and medical evaluations can help determine the severity of the problem and guide treatment.

For our son, probiotics also became an important part of maintaining healthy bowel movements.

Talk about potty training constantly

Even if your child is nonverbal or seems uninterested, keep talking about it.

Use:

• videos

• books

• songs

• visuals

• pretend play

• modeling

Repetition is incredibly important for many children with disabilities.

You are planting seeds even when it does not seem like it.

Once you begin, commit fully

When possible, remove diapers and pull-ups completely.

If children know they are available, many will continue preferring them.

Be prepared for accidents and lots of laundry in the beginning. That is part of the process.

Create a clear plan

Write down:

• restroom schedules

• reinforcement strategies

• prompting steps

• what to do in public places

• how school or caregivers will support the plan

Consistency between home and school makes a huge difference.

Use a timed restroom schedule

During the first few days, we took children to the restroom every ten minutes to reduce accidents and build routine.

Set alarms on your phone if needed.

If your child’s school or daycare cannot support the process during the week, consider beginning on weekends or school breaks.

Give your child a way to communicate restroom needs

Communication is essential.

Children can learn to request the restroom using:

• PECS

• visuals

• AAC devices

• buttons

• American Sign Language (ASL)

For nonverbal children, teaching the ASL sign for “restroom” can be life-changing.

Most importantly: Don’t give up

Toilet training is not always easy for children with disabilities.

Some children learn in weeks. Others may take months.

Progress may feel slow at times—but it is absolutely worth it.

Your child is capable of learning.

And you are not alone in this journey.

If you have questions, need support, or simply need someone who understands, we invite you to reach out to Envision Hope Academy.

We believe every child deserves patience, dignity, support—and hope.