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Toilet Training Program
Reinforcing healthy habits for success in toileting

The Complex Behavior Support Program offers several treatment options to help your child with toilet training

What is the purpose of the Toileting Training Program?

The goals of our evidence-based treatment program typically include:

  • Helping your child with regular trips to the bathroom.
  • Giving positive reinforcement for using the bathroom appropriately.
  • Teaching your child to ask to use the bathroom.

Caregivers will be involved every step of the way to develop at-home support strategies. Most families will start with consultation service and receive personalized care from there.

What options are available for getting my child toilet trained?

The Marcus Autism Center Complex Behavior Support Program offers treatment for toilet training. The three different toilet training programs available are:

  • Toileting Consultation Program
  • Two-week Intensive Toilet Training Program
  • Two-week Bowel Movement Training Program

Toileting Consultation Program

What is the Toileting Consultation Program?
The consultation focuses on training you and your family to take the necessary steps to successfully toilet train your child. Your participation is required throughout this program. A therapist will train you on strategies to increase your child’s continence and decrease accidents.

How long does toilet training consultation last?
A clinician will work with you on increasing continence (going in the toilet) and decreasing accidents for your child. Typically, appointments are two hours and occur weekly for approximately five weeks.

Where does toilet training consultation take place?
Appointments with the therapist take place at Marcus Autism Center or virtually with you and your child at home. The therapist will give you strategies to try at home between appointments.

Two-Week Intensive Toilet Training Program

What is the Two-Week Intensive Toilet Training Program?
The two-week program focuses on training children through interventions that use consistency and reinforcement in order to increase appropriate voids in the toilet. Your child will attend the program in the clinic for five hours a day for approximately 10-14 days. The sessions will occur at either 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The program will begin with therapists providing treatment services within the clinic. However, you are required to be present for training before discharge. Follow-up services are provided on an as-needed basis. This service is most often recommended for children who exhibit behaviors that interfere with toileting, older children and children who have been unsuccessful with the toileting consultation model.

How does this differ from the consultation?
Unlike the consultation program, this two-week program will begin with therapists providing treatment services and support within the clinic. We require that you are present for training before discharge. Follow-up services are provided on an as-needed basis.

Bowel Movement Training Program

What is the Bowel Movement Training Program?
This is a two-week program that offers interventions designed to treat bowel incontinence. Your child will attend the program in the clinic for up to three hours a day for approximately 10 days. You are required to be present for training before discharge. Interventions include the use of suppositories, reinforcement and consistency. Your child must obtain clearance from a medical doctor prior to starting the program. In addition, you will be required to collect data prior to clinic appointments. This program is best for children who are not having urinary accidents, but whohave a history of constipation or are not having regular bowel movements in a toilet.

How does this differ from the Consultation and Intensive Training Programs?
This program requires clearance from a medical doctor before your child can participate. You will also be required to collect data before admission to the program. This program is best for children who are not having urinary accidents, but who have a history of constipation or are not having regular bowel movements in a toilet.

What is the attendance policy?
Our program can work only if you and your family participate regularly. We will re-evaluate your child’s admission if there are excessive cancellations or absences from sessions. The attendance policy defines excessive cancellation as five absences.

If 24-hour notice of a cancellation is not provided, an absence is counted as a missed appointment.