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At The Potty School we recognize that not every potty training journey is the same, especially for those who are potty training children with special needs. We understand the huge impact that diagnoses, symptoms, age, abilities and cognitive, physical and verbal differences can have on the process. There isn't one approach and that's why we focus on getting to know your family, what you've already tried, what has been helpful and what hasn't worked at all.
We primarily focus on three aspects:
1) Caregiver Collaboration:
We begin by asking, and listening, to your concerns. By sharing your wins and setbacks we will have a better picture of how to serve you. This information helps us to work together with you to create a plan of next steps.
2) Sensory-Guided Elimination:
Our unique "special needs potty training" approach is called sensory-guided elimination. It leverages your child's capabilities by capitalizing on their dominant sense, or senses, to lay the groundwork for progress. By understanding how they perceive (receptively) and interact (expressively) with the world, we can create a toilet training experience that feels most comfortable and engaging for them, all the while making potty training progress.
3) Empowering Families:
Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to confidently support your child's potty training journey. We believe in honesty and openness. We take a caring, and informed, approach to best serve your family.
We most often work with children who have autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, or have expressive and/or receptive language delays. But, we have worked with children including, but not limited to, those with chromosomal abnormalities, genetic conditions, post-surgical, PTSD, behavioral episodes, sexual assault victims, selective mutism and many more.
We know that even within the category of special needs potty training, there are very complicated and unique differences. The benefits of Special Needs Potty Training are:
Phone or Video Chat. One-on-one pottying support to talk through planning, implementing, problem solving or finishing up. After booking, we ask you to provide basics about your family’s routines and preferences. You are then matched up with a highly trained, and caring, consultant, based on the answers of your in-take questionnaire. You can book, do your in-take questionnaire and schedule all within a few minutes, if you’d like. Or, take your time after booking and schedule when you are ready. Great as a personal investment, or a gift.
Our concierge service for clients who like to have home access to an experienced professional. These clients can rest assured that what they are doing will be helpful to the process, and encouraging to their family dynamics, both present and future. This premier service is not for everyone. It is for the parent who is looking for that whisper in their ear of what to do each step of the way in order to have the most successes in the potty in the least stressful, and shortest amount of time. It can be for day #1 of pottying, in the middle, or trying to finish up the process.
The online Diapers to Flush Membership is the best of both worlds! Gain 24/7 access to The Potty School’s only endorsed potty learning path, which includes access to videos, tutorials and articles. You will have full access to our community of families from around the world who are on this adventure with you. Our searchable database gives you instant access to specific questions from our vault. Move along on your path with others who are in similar places on the journey with you. You will have people to cry & laugh with. You will not be alone. Not only will you make connections with peers, but you will also have access to submit questions for our Q&A sessions and learn from the experts with topical expert sessions. If you’re unsure which service to invest in, we suggest you start here.
24/7 access to any of our courses ranging from our most-purchased “Online Potty Training Video Course” to more specific topical themes. You can choose your own adventure based on your family’s preferences and parenting philosophies, or you can choose from set mini-courses such as Nights & Naps, or how nutrition can help with Potty Training. Your progress will be marked as you go along. You will have 90-day access to any course purchased.
Any and all parents and caregivers teaching their child(ren) to use the potty. Our team of background checked and cleared professionals truly desire to see progress in your pottying journey. The Potty School® works exceptionally well with all of the following:
We primarily work with children with autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, and those with both receptive and expressive speech delays. We have also worked with cases involving chromosomal abnormalities, genetic disorders, diseases, sexual abuse and selective mutism, to name a few. In addition, we have worked with a variety of other diagnoses as well, some of which include, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy and neuro-typical children who are post-surgical, or in casts, or part of the foster care system.
We have patients who find us by Googling, but we also get plenty of referrals from pediatricians, ABA therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, behavioral therapists, specialists (in numerous medical fields), hospitals, holistic providers, parenting class teachers, school districts, pre-school teachers, Regional Center(s), childcare provider classes, Educational Development Centers, public schools, private school, homeschool co-ops, non-profits, and of course just plain 'ole word-of-mouth.
Absolutely not, and it never will. A person is a person.
No. But, it is definitely helpful to get the perspective of your caregiving team ahead of time, if possible. That said, no formal diagnosis is required.
We are working on progress, not perfection, when it comes to children with special needs and their families. We like to equip you with as many resources ready at the go so that you have options when different situations arise. We won't come in with a plan. (We used to do that, but learned our lesson that it wasn't the best option). We need to learn about your child and your family and what you value, so we will make a plan together.
Not necessarily. If they are done in the home then no. If they require numerous trips out of the house we may need to talk about the pros and cons. Generally, a therapist is willing to come to the home for the sake of Potty Training help. We do limit the amount of adults to a parent/guardian and one additional person over the age of 18. (So, two adults, one of which needs to be a guardian).
If they are a licensed therapist, who is background checked and over the age of 18, we trust your discretion for their presence. But, we will never be alone with your child without you, whether there is another adult or not.
We primarily work with children ages 0-14 years old, but we have recently changed our policy to occasionally include children up to age 17 years old. Yes, is sometimes the new answer! But, we do need additional context in order to make sure we are a best fit for your family. That said, we will ONLY work with children who have a legal guardian. Unfortunately, we are not able to work with emancipated youth. To give us some context about your child ages 15-17 years old, please to use the contact us form, or email us at help@thepottyschool.com and drop us a line.
