Customer Reviews

Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Issues, 2nd Edition

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

...we all know that. This book approaches the MANY different unique issues that may come up in toilet training a child with autism. It does not imply (as most books on this topic do) that there is one sure way to success. The authors provide many suggestions to address each child's INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES (sensory or otherwise) in the training plan. Also, I liked the EMPHASIS ON TEAMWORK -- toilet training an autistic child must involve cooperative effort from teachers, therapists, respite care workers, parents and anyone else who spends time with your child.

If you would have told me years ago that potty training was going to be such a big deal and even take up many hours of research and IEP meetings and even visits by Child Protection I would have told you that you were crazy. I purchased this book as a last resort. I am so glad I did. My son is now fully pee trained and after his constipation (which is also explained in the book to be common accurance in autistic children) clears he will be fully trained. I am so happy with the vast information in this book and that it referances different techniques and
"case stories" that reminded me that there are children older than mine that are not potty trained. It also has solutions for special problems like fear of the flushing, voiding in the toilet, using too much toilet paper and fixation on other things in the bathroom. There is so much in this book that has been helpful that I would have never found anywhere else. I even copied many of the pages to prove to the school that potty difficulties are common with children with autism and the teachers and school nurse oohed and awwed over the book as well. There are many pages related to school use of the bathroom and communications that are needed between teachers and parents. The book reminds teachers not to be angry with parents and vice versa when diapers and extra clothes are forgotten. The book is easy and fun to read and very informational. I recommend this book to many of the parents who have autistic children.
Buy it you won't be sorry.

This book is one of the few that helped me see toilet training in a new light with some real possibilities for my child. There were strategies I had not read before and nice case studies helping put a human face on a problem I thought was mine alone as a mother. Most books only address toileting issues for young children, this approached them developmentally, not age alone. I would recomeend this to anyone having difficulty with this issue in their family.

Much more than a how-to, this book adeptly tackles one of the least talked about yet most universal and stress inducing problems facing parents and caregivers of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Much of the methodology and tactics introduced are logically derived from a number of case studies where various sensory and developmental issues that often impede mastery and retention of toileting skills were addressed.

I have a six-year-old with Autism who is yet to be potty trained. I was beside myself until I purchased this manual. Now, I understand more about his point of view when it comes to learning this new task. I was perplexed by his ability to control his bladder and bowel, but his unwillingness to use the toilet. It never occurred to me that using the bathroom could cause anxiety or that I needed to provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere for him while he was on the toilet.

What I like most about this book is that it gives you not only an overview but solutions and ideas for making a very important milestone in your child's life possible. Any parent of a child with learning disabilities wants their child to be able to assimilate into society as much as possible. This book helps to knock down one more wall standing in the way of social acceptance.

...if you can get past the author's writing style.

Overall, it had some very good information and helpful tips that I plan to incorporate my 3 1/2 year old child with PDD/NOS. My one complaint (which is the reason for 4 stars) is that the author did not portray the information in an organized way. I spent most of the book reading about how good the method works, but it didn't go in depth enough to get a good picture on what to do with my son until towards the end of the book.

It would have resulted in a much shorter and easier to read book, if Ms. Wheeler had just presented a chapter explaining the pros of the methods she has used, followed by the methods of teaching in a concise A though Z manner.

ADDENDUM 11/11/04: Not using this book's methodology at all, my son finally decided for himself to use the toilet last July (at age 4 1/2) and was completely day-trained from then on (I can count on one hand the accidents he has had since them :o). I would decrease the amount of stars if I could, because I reread the book recently and disliked it even more.

While we successfully opted to use a different training method to train our 4 year-old dughter- this book was very good at making sense out of our daughter's behavior. An autistic child can really be a challange to understand under normal curcumstances- the volume goes waaaaaay up when potty training. We would highly recommend this book to anyone getting ready to take on this very big job. Take what you can from this book and choose the method that feels most likely to work. Be committed. Chin up. You can do it. Good luck.

If you ever thought that toilet training was no big deal, try training a child with special needs...a whole different story. This book gives some great tips on how to go about it when the odds are against you. Determining readiness, common problems and solutions and developing a routine, are just some of the topics covered in this book. It is a must have for special ed. teachers as well as parents of individuals with autism and related disorders. Great book!

The instructions and diagrams are clear. Although it implies 'autisitic' children, my son is mentally challenged I am using the best suited methodology for him and I can check off easily where we are. It explains in a logical way why a particular approach, what to expect. Finally, he is nine, I have signs of progress. It is an undersell to say 'children with autism'. True several books have sections on this but this single bit of literature that comprehensively covers a critical area. Trust me I have read many.

I am so thankful that I chose this book over others that deal with toilet training. I did not realize how teaching someone on the spectrum how to use the potty is very different in many ways, than someone who's not. This book deals with those issues. It brings to light some very important routines and activities to follow. Especially for someone who is new to the world of Autism, this is a book that I highly recommend that you include in your library.