This post may contain affiliate links and The Potty School may earn a small commission when you click on the links, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate, and affiliate with additional companies, we may earn from qualifying purchases. You can read our full affiliate disclaimer here.
If your child receives support through Wisconsin's Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) program, this page is for you.
The Potty School is an approved, state-wide CLTS service provider in Wisconsin. That means if your child is enrolled in CLTS, you may be able to access our special needs potty training services — in-home or virtually — through your existing CLTS funding, without paying out of pocket.
Here's what that looks like and how to get started.
Wisconsin's Children's Long-Term Support program provides funding and services for children with significant disabilities — including those with autism, intellectual disabilities, and other complex needs — to help them participate fully in their family and community life.
Potty training is a functional life skill. For children with special needs, it can also be one of the most challenging milestones to reach without specialized support. Standard potty training advice isn't written for children whose sensory systems, communication styles, or physical abilities work differently. And most families in this situation have already tried — several times — before finding us.
We work specifically with this population. It's not a side service. It's where The Potty School started.
We are already set up as a state-wide provider in Wisconsin. You can find us in the CLTS provider directory here.
This matters because it means the process for your family is straightforward — there's no lengthy approval process for us as a vendor. If your county already works with us, we can start quickly. If your county hasn't contracted with us yet, your social worker can initiate that process.
We bill WPS directly. You do not pay us on our website. Your social worker handles the funding side — your job is simply to reach out and ask.
Step 1: Contact us directly.
Email help@thepottyschool.com and let us know you're a Wisconsin CLTS family. We'll confirm whether your county is already set up and walk you through the next steps.
Step 2: Talk to your CLTS social worker.
Ask them to initiate a contract with The Potty School as a vendor, or to add our services to your child's support plan. You can send them a link to this page. We're already in the CLTS provider directory — they'll be able to find us.
Step 3: Not yet enrolled in CLTS?
If your child has a qualifying disability but you haven't applied yet, you can apply for CLTS here. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has full information on eligibility and the application process.
Step 4: Schedule a consultation.
Once funding is confirmed, we schedule an initial consultation to understand your child's specific needs, communication style, sensory profile, and where the process has stalled before. From there, we build a plan.
Children who receive CLTS services come to us with a wide range of diagnoses — autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, global developmental delays, sensory processing differences. The plan we build looks different for each child, because the obstacles are different for each child.
For a child with autism, the barrier is often sensory — the sound of the flush, the texture of the seat, the transition from one activity to another. For a child with Down syndrome, the pace and the communication approach need to be calibrated differently. For a child with a physical disability, the equipment setup matters as much as the training method.
What stays the same across all of it: we coach the parent and caregiver, not the child directly. You are the one who is there every day. Our job is to equip you with exactly what to say, what to do at each step, and how to respond when things don't go as expected. That's what makes the results stick.
For more on our special needs approach, see Special Needs Toilet Training: What Parents Need to Know and How to Potty Train a Child with Autism.
"[The Potty School Consultant] has been very kind and thoughtful with all of her ideas. As my son is challenging with his behaviors, she continues to think of new things that may help us on our journey to use the potty successfully."— Kelly, La Crosse County, WI
This is what we're here for. Not a chart you download and try alone. A real person, thinking through your child's specific situation, adjusting when something isn't working.
For Wisconsin families, we offer both in-home consultations and virtual support via phone or video. Which is right for your family depends on your child's needs, your location, and your preference.
In-home is our most intensive option — a consultant comes to your home and walks you through the process in real time, in your child's own environment. Virtual works well for many families, particularly when we're further into the process and you mainly need guidance and troubleshooting rather than an in-person presence.
Your CLTS social worker can help determine which level of support makes sense for your child's plan.
If your child has special needs but isn't enrolled in CLTS — or if you're not in Wisconsin — we can still help. Our services are available to families across the U.S. in-home and virtually, as well as globally via phone and video. See our special needs potty training services page or book a consultation directly.
For information on other funding options — including HSA, FSA, and IEP coverage — see Will Insurance Cover Potty Training?
Is The Potty School an approved CLTS provider in Wisconsin?
Yes. We are a state-wide approved CLTS provider. You can find us in the CLTS provider directory. Your social worker can initiate a contract with us if your county hasn't already.
How do I get The Potty School's services covered through CLTS?
Contact us at help@thepottyschool.com to confirm your county's status, then ask your CLTS social worker to add our services to your child's support plan. We bill WPS directly — you don't pay us out of pocket through this program.
What if my county isn't yet contracted with The Potty School?
Ask your social worker to initiate the contract. We are already set up as a state-wide vendor, so the process is straightforward on their end. You can send them a link to this page and to our CLTS directory listing.
My child hasn't been enrolled in CLTS yet. Can I still apply?
Yes. If your child has a qualifying disability, you can apply for CLTS through the Wisconsin DHS. Eligibility information is available on the CLTS program page.
What diagnoses do you work with?
We work with children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, global developmental delays, sensory processing differences, and other complex needs. If you're unsure whether our services are a fit, email us and we'll tell you honestly.
Do you offer in-home services in Wisconsin?
Yes. We offer both in-home and virtual services for Wisconsin CLTS families. In-home availability depends on location — contact us to discuss your area.
When you think of I/DD or special needs potty training, think of The Potty School.
~ Michelle
help@thepottyschool.com | 949.229.0114
Don't live in Wisconsin, but have a special needs child? Or live in Wisconsin, but your special needs child isn't part of CLTS? You can learn more about our services apart from CLTS on our homepage or Book Now pages. We would love the opportunity to get to know and serve your family!