Neurodivergent &
Special Needs Potty Learning
If your child is holding their poop, refusing the toilet, or panicking when it’s If you’ve tried potty training advice that felt rushed, rigid, or completely mismatched for your child—you’re not imagining it.
Most potty training guidance is built for a narrow developmental profile. When a child has differences in sensory processing, communication, anxiety, motor planning, or body awareness, those approaches often miss what actually matters.
This page is for families who need something different.
Thoughtful, individualized support for children who don’t fit traditional timelines
There is no one-size-fits-all approach
If traditional advice hasn’t worked, that doesn’t mean your child isn’t capable
It usually means the approach wasn’t built for them.
Potty learning isn’t just about readiness or motivation. For many neurodivergent or special needs children, it’s shaped by:
How their body signals internal sensations (interoception)
Sensory sensitivities to sound, touch, smell, or position
Communication differences
Anxiety, rigidity, or need for predictability
Motor planning and sequencing challenges
When these factors aren’t considered, potty training can feel confusing—or even distressing—for both the child and the adults supporting them.
Why standard potty training timelines often don’t apply
And why that’s okay
Many families are told:
“Just wait until they’re ready”
“Be consistent and it will click”
“They’ll do it when they want to”
For neurodivergent children, progress doesn’t always follow linear timelines—and waiting without guidance can feel just as stressful as pushing too hard.
Success often comes from:
Adjusting expectations, not lowering them
Breaking skills into smaller, teachable pieces
Supporting body awareness alongside routine
Allowing flexibility while maintaining structure
Potty learning can still happen—it just may need to unfold differently.
What actually supports long-term progress
Respecting the nervous system, not overriding it
When a child feels safe, regulated, and understood, learning accelerates.
Effective support often includes:
Adapting the environment (not just the child)
Using developmentally appropriate language and pacing
Supporting sensory needs before expecting output
Building predictability without rigidity
Responding calmly to setbacks without escalating pressure
This isn’t about “going slow forever.”
It’s about creating conditions where progress is sustainable.
How I work with neurodivergent and special needs families
Gentle, systematic, and collaborative
I work regularly with children who have complex or layered profiles, including those with:
Autism
Sensory processing differences
Anxiety
Speech or communication delays
Developmental delays
Medical or trauma histories
Support is individualized and often collaborative. When appropriate, I work alongside:
Parents and caregivers
Schools or childcare settings
Occupational therapists, speech therapists, or other providers
My role is to help translate what your child is communicating—through their behavior, body, and patterns—into a plan that actually fits.
Reflections from families.
Many families say the biggest shift wasn’t just their child’s progress, but their own confidence in knowing how to respond, adjust, and keep going.
“Cara is truly a life saver. She was not only able to potty train our non verbal autistic kid but was also able to make him independent which was such an important goal for us. She truly treated my son as her own family. My wife has spent countless hours in trying to potty train our son but because he is non verbal autistic we just lost hope but Cara literally potty trained him in just few days.
For anyone who is reading these reviews and considering Cara. I would say just go for it you won’t regret.”
— Assad U., Parent
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“The remote coaching was an incredible help, not only with potty training but with communication as well. Our 2 year old was going through a potty training regression, and after working with Cara we're back on the right track, with great ways to make the potty a positive experience and how speak to our daughter in a way that makes sense and connects with her on her level.”
— Logan W., Parent
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“Cara came to my house and literally saved me. My daughter is autistic and was 4 at the time. I tried every single method possible on my own. After 6 months of failing I decided to look into getting professional help. She was so calm and patient. The whole thing took 3 days. I would NEVER have been able to do it on my own. And I kept having visions of my daughter a teenager and still in diapers. I’m beyond grateful for Cara and the days she spent with me and my family. She is AMAZING.”
— Elizabeth N., Parent
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Start with a guided inquiry
So I can understand what’s happening for your child
Every child’s profile is different. The first step is a guided inquiry where I learn about:
Your child’s strengths and challenges
Past experiences with potty learning
Sensory, communication, or emotional factors
What support would feel most helpful right now
From there, I’ll guide you toward the most appropriate next step—often remote coaching for ongoing, responsive support.
You don’t need to force readiness
You need the right support
Potty learning doesn’t have to feel like a constant guessing game.
Your child isn’t behind—they’re learning in their own way.
And you deserve guidance that respects that.
