Complete Guide to Special Needs Toilet Training

Toilet training children with disabilities is challenging, let's face it toilet training children without disabilities is challenging.  In many cases, toilet training children with disabilities is similar to training other children. It simply requires more patience and some extra support.   In our school we begin toilet training on a schedule sometimes putting a child on the potty once per hour until they start getting the idea.  

Some kids need the extra feedback of potty alarms.  I grew up with a child with Down syndrome in the 70's, her name is Krissy.  When Krissy was potty trained, around the age of 5, she had a potty alarm.  I would think that for kids with Down syndrome potty alarms would be beneficial because Down syndrome kids have low muscle tone.  Typically kids with low muscle tone have reduced tactile sensations and would not be as sensitive to having a wet diaper or pull up.

I feel toilet training a disabled child is of the utmost importance, not only for convenience but also to protect the child.  Over 50% of people with disabilities are sexually abused, potty training your child will take away opportunities of sexual abuse.

I found this guide to toilet training children with disabilities.  Here you'll find plenty of articles, strategies and tips for toilet training children with a variety of special needs. Plus you'll find resources for trouble shooting many types of potty problems like smearing poop, fear of the toilet and potty training regression. It's the most comprehensive guide of toileting resources for special needs parents and teachers with students who are not potty trained.

Guide to Potty Training Kids with Disabilities.