Looking for other parents

jtsmom · 03-23-2001, 04:54 PM

Hi! I am new to this form of support, but very experienced with being the parent of an autistic child. I have a beautiful loving 7 year old little boy, who is considered profoundly autistic and non verbal. I have just started to potty train him after many other attempts, and I am happy to report that after 2 weeks, he is beginning to catch on. I was curious if anyone has any suggestions on different things I can try to help his accomplish this goal. Any and all help is appreciated.

eweejoe · 03-23-2001, 06:52 PM

Congratulations on the potty training. My son is 8 and is also autistic and non-verbal. I don't have any advice for you because my son is not potty trained. I have always felt like he knows more and is capable of more than he does. Was just wondering if your son is that way. I have never even made a serious attempt to potty train him. I would be curious as to how you're 'introducing' your son to the potty. If he's catching on, then I would say GREAT and keep up the good work. Hope someone will have some advice for you instead of wanting advice from you like me.

Good Luck to you and your son!!

jtsmom · 03-26-2001, 09:45 AM

My son and your son sound alot alike. I am like you, I believe my son has so much inside that he is struggling to get out. I am so happy to finally be able to communicate with someone who understands this. What kind of program is your son in? My son attends a special school, that is part of the public school system. I am so lucky that his teachers and aides are phenomenal. They are helping with his potty training by following through at school. I introduced my son to the potty by putting him on one of those adult potty chairs that have arms to them. He feels more secure with this that the toilet, but I am happy to say that he finally went on the toilet at school Friday. I am hoping that he will eventually get the hang of all this. I know it will take time.

eweejoe · 03-27-2001, 06:53 PM

Hey! My son is also in a Special Ed. program in our school system. I have never pushed the issue of potty training because I just never felt he was capable. Quite frankly, I've done so much for him for so long that he's just plain lazy sometimes. Everyone that knows him feels he's capapble of more than what he does as far as being independant. He does feed himself most of the time. Comparing notes here, I was just wondering how much your son understands. Meaning, does he understand if you tell him "pick up the ball"? or simple things like that. My son doesn't respond to stuff like that so much, but if I ask "Do you want a bath?" off to the bathroom he runs. If I ask if he's hungry to the kitchen he goes. Stand up, sit down, come here. Simple things like that. I have been told that he has learned these because they are VERY simple EVERYDAY commands and that he could learn more if he can learn these. I am often at a loss as to where to begin, or he is so resistant that I give up. I truly want to get ABA therapy for him, but am having a hard time pulling that one off. It is expensive and I haven't found anyone in my area that is even trained to do it or even heard of it. He should have started it much earlier because the earlier they start, the better the results, but I didn't even hear about it until a few month ago.

Hope the potty training is coming along nicely for you guys. I am giving serious thought to getting very serious about it this summer while he's out of school and just taking him to the potty every hour on the hour or something. I think he understands what it is for, but I can't be sure. But it isn't going to happen if I don't try, right??

Wishing you continued success!!

jtsmom · 03-28-2001, 09:43 AM

Thanks for getting back to me. My son sounds more and more like your son. I don't call it lazy though but smart. He figured out if someone else will do it for him why should he? I believe he understands everything I say to him, but like you I have always did everything for him, so he takes advantage when he can. He has gotten much better about following directions in I would say the last year or so. He will go get his coat, a pullup etc... He also loves the bath. I can't keep him out of the water in the summer time. He has been on a modified ABA program this year. Last year they tried a strict program, but he didn't do real well with it so now we do a little bit looser for him. If I were you I would try and contact a private special needs school, they may be able to guide you to a qualified therapist. It is never too late to try any technique that will help your son. Also if you want to get him to do things it will take lots of patience. I taught my son to pick up things by first asking, then showing him what I meant. I probably did this more than a million times before he caught on to what I wanted. The point though is he does know, and I suspect so does your son. I know of some therapists in Maryland who might be able to help you find an ABA therapist. If you would like any information please don't hesitate to ask. I wish you and your son the best. Remember to keep smiling even though sometimes it is a big challenge.