Caregiver‐implemented toilet training procedures for children with autism spectrum disorder

Dabney et al. (2023) tested toilet training delivered only through Zoom. Parents of three autistic children learned the steps on screen, then ran the full protocol at home.

Coaches never entered the house. They used video calls to teach parents how to fade sitting times and reward successes.

Two children reached full toileting mastery with the Zoom-only plan. The third child also mastered after a short break in coaching.

All training stayed in the family’s living room. No clinic visits were needed.

Boutain et al. (2020) showed the same Zoom parent-training model works for self-care skills like tooth-brushing. Dabney’s team now proves it also works for the harder skill of toilet training.

Simcoe et al. (2024) stretched telehealth coaching to older kids with intellectual disability. Together these papers show the age range keeps growing, but the method stays the same.

Walker et al. (2025) later used the same remote caregiver plan for adults with Down syndrome who needed CPAP machines. One coaching blueprint now spans toddlers to adults.

You can add toilet training to your telehealth menu today. Teach parents the sit schedule, watch them on camera, and give live feedback. No travel, no table-time setup, just the family bathroom. Start with one coached practice session and nightly check-ins. Mastery may arrive faster than you expect.