Teaching an Adult with ASD Independent Toileting Skills

Background: Independence with the toilet is an important life skill. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may present with several deficits that impair their ability to independently use the toilet and often individuals with ASD require more support than is provided in typical toilet training methods, including behavioral toilet training methods. This current study is a demonstration of the use of an intensive toilet training procedure with one eighteen-year-old adult male with ASD and below-average levels of adaptive functioning to successfully void in the toilet and reduce accidents. Methods: A package of behavioral toilet training procedures was implemented for 11 weeks in a school setting. This package included intensive toilet training, a urine alarm, a toileting schedule, verbal praise, edible reinforcement, and dry pants checks. School staff were trained to implement this procedure with behavioral skills training (BST). Results: Intensive toilet training was effective in eliminating the number of accidents while increasing the number of successes, thus increasing his independence with toileting. Conclusions: Increasing independence with toileting is an important life skill and can increase the likelihood that an individual would be accepted by an adult services placement.