Autism and toileting

[Letstryagainshallwe]

I have a 6 yo autitic daughter. Recently if she needs the toilet she won't tell me instead she will pull her clothes down and just wee wherever, the first time it happened was a few weeks ago. She's now just done it again on the school run infront of a lot of others people. We was walking down the hill and I have a baby in a pram which is why I didn't get to her quicker. It's getting to the point now where I'm worried people will not want to be around us or think we are dirty. Obviously they don't know she has autism. How can I let her know it isn't ok? (She's also done it in a park)

Obviously I've told her but she doesn't care

"Doesn't care" or doesn't understand?

I think she does understand I just don't think it's bothers her.

There was a poster a few years ago who had an issue with her son doing the same, I can't find the thread (it was posted by piratejones) with a search but I think she ended up using a belt he couldn't unbuckle to keep him from removing his trousers.

Make sure she's able to go when she needs to, e.g. could she be struggling to ask to go to the toilet at school?

Think about whether she's recognising the physical signs that she needs a wee, lots of autistic kids also have things like hypotonia and hypermobility which can affect body sensations, doing core strength work can help with this (balancing and bouncing for example).

Make sure she tries for a wee before leaving the house. Don't make her try to force a wee as this can mix up signals, just a 'go and try please' before you leave.

Make sure she doesn't have a UTI that's bothering her, autistic people can struggle with recognising pain, so she's reliant on you recognising patterns that might indicate something wrong. Drinks like blackcurranf squash can be bladder irritants.

Praise praise praise for weeing on the toilet but don't react to the 'accidents' just like with toilet training.