Toileting Readiness & Independence: Supporting Neurotypical & Neurodivergent Children
Toileting independence is a foundational ADL, yet many clinicians lack a developmentally grounded framework for guiding families through toilet training, especially when the child is neurodivergent and follows an atypical readiness timeline. The stakes are real: starting before 24 or after 36 months is linked to dysfunctional voiding, and up to 70% who begin past 36 months are constipated (Hodges et al., 2014), a hidden driver of withholding and stalled progress that is missed when constipation is screened by stool frequency alone. This course equips PTs, OTs, and their assistants with an evidence-based, five-domain readiness framework (physiological, gross motor, cognitive, social-emotional, and timing) plus a practical toolkit of strategies for use across neurotypical and neurodivergent presentations including autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. Attendees leave able to assess true readiness, screen for the barriers, and individualize care, with downloadable Monday-ready tools.
Course•By Dawn Sandalcidi PT, RCMT, BCB-PMD