Classroom Based Intensive Toilet Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

RThomas et al. (2021) ran an intensive toilet program inside real elementary classrooms. Four students with autism got extra drinks, timed potty sits, praise for success, and quick dry checks.

The team used a multiple-baseline design. They waited to start each child so any change could be pinned on the program.

Every child hit mastery and stayed accident-free. Three of the four kids also began asking to go on their own.

Gains held without extra help, showing the skills stuck.

Staddon et al. (2002) did almost the same package two decades earlier with preschoolers. They also saw zero accidents and self-requests in under two weeks. The new study shows the recipe still works for older kids in today’s classrooms.

Grindle et al. (2012) used the same multiple-baseline classroom design to teach science words. Both studies prove the design spots real learning fast, whether the skill is toileting or vocabulary.

Griffen et al. (2023) tried AI prompts for hand-washing. Their child outcomes were mixed while RR’s toileting hit 100%. The difference hints that toilet training may need fewer moving parts than AI-driven chains.

You can copy this package Monday. Bring water bottles, set a timer for sits, deliver stickers, and check dryness every 15 minutes. No extra staff or fancy tech needed. The data show four kids gained full continence and most started asking to go, saving your team from daily accident clean-ups.