Toilet Training
Competent toileting is considered a critical life skill and one that is viewed as a priority for teaching by both parents and teachers. The published history of toilet training individuals with cognitive and intellectual delays began in the early 1960s with a predominantly behavioral paradigm for training continence. The basic behavioral premises of toileting success were systematic presentation of response cues and contingent positive reinforcement.
In 1971, Azrin and Foxx furthered the empirical support for behavioral procedures with the development of the most cited and comprehensive toilet training protocol, the rapid toilet training (RTT) method. This method continues to be successfully used today by parents, teachers and Behavior Analysts.
ABA procedures are also used to teach the related behaviors necessary for the child to be totally independent with the toileting process. These include: requesting or indicating the need to use the bathroom, identifying the location of the nearest bathroom, undressing and dressing skills (such as being able to pull pants up and down, manipulate zippers, buttons, snaps,etc), and washing and drying hands following toileting.
Links
www.unmc.edu/mmi/pfdresources.htm
www.nationalautismresources.com/azandfototri.html