Supporting Continence: A Holistic, Interdisciplinary Approach

Even when toilet training goes well, it can be difficult. There are often questions of the right time to start, or the best methods to use. This workshop series for professionals offers practical, effective, and respectful strategies to support both typical toilet training and continence challenges. The full-day session will provide a basis for effective toilet training through a developmental lens. We will cover traditional approaches to toilet training and their appropriate applications. Content will also discuss where continence and toilet training can go wrong, and how to manage it.

Special topics sessions will cover areas of special interest. Attendance at special topic sessions is dependent on attending the full-day foundations session on January 28th. Special topics sessions are intended as intermediate/advanced content for specific professions, but all participants are welcome with the understanding that content may not be familiar to all professions.

• Beyond Constipation: Advanced Causes and Conditions Associated with Incontinence (target profession: school nurse, medical professionals) Monday 2/2 7-8:30*
• Picky Eating, The Microbiome, and The Gut-Brain Axis (target audience: dietitians, nutritionists, OT and SLP feeding therapists, medical professionals) Monday 2/9 11-12:30
• Parent Collaboration for Behavior Challenges in Toilet Training (target audience: mental health providers) Monday 3/9 11-12:30
• Disability, Continence, and Toilet Training (target audience: occupational therapists, physical therapists, special educators) Monday 3/16 11-12:30
• Incontinence Management in the School Setting (target audience: school-based professionals) Monday 3/23 7-8:30*

* Note that some special topics sessions occur during the day, and others are in the evening.

To register: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=860654&

Training Objectives:

By the end of the general workshop, participants will be able to…

• Describe the typical developmental trajectory of continence and toilet training, including important readiness indicators
• Describe the two major approaches to toilet training, how they differ, and when to apply each
• Identify three “warning signs” for problems related to incontinence
• Identify behavioral health factors negatively impacting continence.
• Recognize the role of temperamental style in relation to continence and toilet training readiness.
• Understand the appropriate use of consequences as they relate to continence.
• Describe principles of nutrition that facilitate healthy elimination
• Name three mechanisms by which chronic constipation affects continence development
• Explain appropriate nutrition interventions for various phases of medical management of functional constipation
• Name the four phases of holistic continence and toileting intervention

Monday 2/2 7-8:30* Beyond Constipation: Advanced Causes and Conditions Associated with Incontinence (target profession: school nurse)

• Identify and differentiate medical and neurological conditions beyond constipation (e.g., neurological, anatomical, psychological conditions) that may contribute to urinary and fecal incontinence in school-aged children
• Apply assessment strategies to recognize signs of incontinence related to underlying conditions (e.g., neurogenic bladder, pelvic floor dysfunction, or behavioral health disorders) and collaborate with healthcare providers and families for appropriate management in the school setting.

Monday 2/9 11-12:30 Picky Eating, The Microbiome, and The Gut-Brain Axis (target audience: dietitians, nutritionists, OT and SLP feeding therapists)

• Describe the neuroendocrine, immune, and microbial mechanisms linking gastrointestinal function to sensory processing, appetite regulation, and food acceptance.
• Understand current evidence on the role of the gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of selective and avoidant eating patterns.
• Integrate microbiome-supportive nutrition interventions into dietary management plans for clients with picky or restrictive eating behaviors.

Monday 3/9 11-12:30 Parent Collaboration for Behavior Challenges in Toilet Training (target audience: mental health providers)

• Understand the concept of reducing pressure and how supporting caregivers in doing so can lead to progress with continence.
• Partner with caregivers to enhance understanding of why interventions are focused on caregivers.
• Collaborate with families to develop an appropriate action plan to address continence at home

Monday 3/16 11-12:30 Disability, Continence, and Toilet Training (target audience: occupational therapists, physical therapists, and special educators)

• Describe how tone atypicality and sensory processing disorder affect continence acquisition
• Evaluate toileting skills performance for children and youth with disabilities.
• Develop personalized toileting and continence goals for children and youth with disabilities
• Demonstrate positioning and facilitation skills to support healthy elimination for all bodies
• Name three strategies to teach toileting to children and youth with disabilities

Monday 3/23 7-8:30* Incontinence Management in the School Setting (target audience: school-based professionals)

• Identify and differentiate the individualized roles and responsibilities of school nurses, special education staff, paraprofessionals, teachers, and administrators in managing incontinence in the school setting
• Describe the purpose and components of varied documentation procedures, including Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP), Individualized Education Program (IEP), or Section 504 plan for students with incontinence
• Understand the rules, limitations, and possibilities when developing a school toileting plan. Facilitate the development of a continence, toileting, and diapering policy in their school or district
• Implement a classroom-based toileting program in the preschool setting

Important information:

This workshop is intended for Vermont-based professionals working with children, including special educators, school nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and mental health providers. We are sorry, but this series is not open to parents, paraprofessionals, behavior technicians, or medical aides.

This program is not accredited, but certificates of attendance will be provided to participants who attend live and remain on camera.

All sessions will be recorded. The recordings will be released as a group after the final special topic session.