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Squatty Potty 101: Adjusting to Having a Squatty Potty in Your Home
Since the time you were tall enough to try to flush your toys down the toilet, you’ve been trained to sit to poop. Now you find out that you’ve been doing it all wrong. As if dealing with that realization isn’t enough, you now have to retrain yourself, without the help of your misguided parents, to squat, instead. In place of the stepstool you used as a toddler to reach up to the toilet, you now have this gadget in your home that’s eerily similar but requires that you to squat down to the toilet. Before you start to think that the world has gone topsy-turvy, we have some advice to offer on how to adjust to your new Squatty Potty, and how to explain it to your friends and family. Getting Your Head in the Game You’ve been indoctrinated since a very early age by a cult of sit-poopers to poop a certain way; so don’t expect squatting to feel natural to you. If you’ve ever squatted to poop in the woods, that probably felt pretty cool, but squatting in a bathroom, even if the bathroom is equipped with a squat toilet, can feel awkward. Timing is Everything Accept the fact that you’re going to have some awkward moments, guys especially. When you wake up in the morning aiming at the ceiling, you may want to wait a few minutes and use your typical stand-and-shoot position to empty your water gun before squatting to drop your bombs. Fortunately for most guys, the bomb doors don’t need to be opened until later in the morning. Assuming the Position The good news is that you don’t have to squat entirely with a squatty potty. You can still sit. The Squatty Potty simply raises your legs to simulate squatting and put you in the proper position to deliver the package. Of course, if you want to do a bona fide squat, Squatty Potty can help with that, too. The objective is to achieve a position as close to a natural squat as possible by bringing your thighs up closer to your chest. Why, you ask? Well, that requires a brief lesson in human anatomy. Your body has been cleverly designed to give you the power to decide when to poop and when not to. Many people mistakenly believe that the sphincter muscle is the sole gatekeeper, but this is not so. Two additional obstacles stand between your poop and the pond below. First, near the end of the colon is a section called the sigmoid colon that has a natural kink in it — imagine a garden hose folded over to stop the water flowing through it. The kink must be released to allow the waste to flow freely. A second obstacle is the puborectalis muscle, which maintains a chokehold on the rectum. Only squatting, not sitting, fully relaxes this muscle to clear the pathway to the anus. This elegant design (or happenstance, depending on what you believe) has kept us from pooping while walking around while enabling us to squat and fully eliminate the solid waste from our bodies. Giving Yourself Ample Time to Adapt Becoming accustomed to squatting takes time, as many of our customers have noted. Be prepared to spend some time adapting to the following: Squatting tends to spread your cheeks, so to speak, removing another obstacle that stands in the way of your poop reaching its target; however, spread too far, and it can feel as though somebody jabbed a saber into your perineum. A shorter Squatty Potty usually solves this problem. Pants rolled down around the ankles can make it difficult to widen your stance sufficiently. If that’s the case, you may need to pull them up a little, keeping them below the knees, or you could always go au naturel the first few times. When your thighs are raised they no longer help to support you on the seat, placing additional pressure on your buns, which can cause discomfort for people with bony butts. Sadly, this just takes getting used to and is a minor issue compared to the many benefits of squatting. You may need to work on your aim; some customers have sprayed outside the target area while developing the necessary skill. Coming Clean with House Guests In addition to being a barely noticeable bathroom accessory, the Squatty Potty, when spotted, becomes a great conversation piece. The uninitiated may think, at first, that a nearby toddler is being potty trained. Others may think you use it as a stepstool to reach up to the ceiling or above the cabinets. Maybe they think you’re challenging your ability to aim from greater heights. If anyone asks about it, the most interesting response is to ask them what they think it’s for. (Please, please post their responses below!) If you’d prefer to avoid that discussion, another option is to come clean; tell them what it’s for, why you have it, and how it has impacted (or removed the impaction from) your life. Offer to let them take it for a spin. Heck, everybody poops, no secret there!
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Don’t Get Your Colon in a Knot: The Anxiety-Pooping Connection
Do you have trouble pooping whenever your routine is disrupted — when out of town for business or on vacation or even just when you’re away for the weekend, for example? If so, you’re not alone; by one estimate, 40 percent of people experience traveler’s constipation (i.e., difficulty in emptying the bowels while away from home). To the other extreme, many people get diarrhea when they’re nervous. In fact, anxiety to the point of fear may even cause a person to literally poop their pants. Of course, poop problems are often and primarily diet related (the quality and quantity of the food and beverages consumed), but it’s no surprise that your brain and your mindset play an important role in how well, or not so well, you poop. After all, your bowels and your brain are connected. Some doctors even refer to the gut as “the second brain” — an organ that can receive signals from and send signals to the brain. The connection is the enteric nervous system (ENS), a subdivision of the body’s autonomic nervous system (ANS), the part of the nervous system that controls unconscious bodily functions, such as breathing, heartbeat, and digestion. The ENS division of the ANS directly controls the gastrointestinal system. So, even though nothing you are consciously thinking is at fault, the problem could still be all or mostly “in your head.” Although the problem may be in your head, the solution is likely to require attention to four areas: Diet Exercise Relaxation Squatting Diet and Nutrition The recipe for healthy pooping is almost cliché: Drink plenty of water and eat foods high in fiber. By “water,” we mean water without a whole lot of coffee or tea, alcohol, or sugary drinks (even fruit juice). By “foods high in fiber,” we mean fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, and healthy whole grains. The idea here is to regulate the colon. While we often think of water and fiber as foods that loosen stools and make you empty your bowels more, regulating the colon can help to alleviate diarrhea, too. Caffeine, you may be surprised to know, is counterproductive, because it is a diuretic which dehydrates the body, and because it stimulates the hypersecretion of gastric acids. And alcohol — which a lot of us like to drink when we’re on vacation or with clients during an overnight business trip — is generally considered a toxic substance that irritates the bowel and can even trigger an attack of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Of course, if you have an acute bout of diarrhea or constipation, shifting from your normal diet can help: Diarrhea: If you have diarrhea, consider the BRAT diet — bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, all of which have the effect of binding loose and runny stools. Yogurt may also help, making for a BRATY diet. Constipation: Fluids and fiber are your go-to foods for curing constipation. Legumes (beans, lentils, and peas), broccoli and spinach, nuts and seeds, berries, and most fruits (except bananas), are great choices. Chocolate may also help, but avoid cheese at all costs (because cheese is about as low in fiber as you can get). Exercise Exercise, or any physical activity, promotes overall health, including bowel health and activity. A sedentary lifestyle contributes to constipation by slowing the digestive system. Engaging in a consistent exercise routine, exercising at the same time every day, is best, even when you’re on the road. One caution: Strenuous exercise can lead to dehydration, so increase your water intake accordingly. Relaxation Stress and anxiety contribute to both constipation and diarrhea, so learn to stay relaxed throughout the day. We understand that life can be stressful and that you cannot possibly eliminate all the stressful situations (and people) in your life, but you can change the way you respond to stress. Practices such as mindfulness meditation are very helpful for throttling your stress response, because they train your mind to stay in the present instead of allowing regrets of the past or concerns about the future from triggering emotional reactions. Yoga, mindfulness, and other relaxation techniques are also helpful in eliciting the relaxation response — a psychological state of deep restorative rest that alleviates stress and anxiety and helps to regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen consumption. Practicing Yoga or mindfulness meditation 15 to 20 minutes a day has proven useful for treating gastrointestinal disorders, as well, specifically IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Squatting While most doctors provide much of the same advice we present in this post, few doctors focus on one of the most important factors that contribute to bowel regularity — posture. In fact, the Squatty Potty itself was conceived shortly after a therapist recommended to our founder’s mother that she try squatting to relieve her constipation. In other words, when you assume the position to ease your burden, “don’t sit, squat,” she was told. And the same goes for you… give your poop a free corridor to exit the building. Squatty Potty can help. And if you commonly suffer from traveler’s constipation, consider getting another Squatty Potty to take along with you — the Porta Squatty. The take-away lesson here is this: If you’re worried about pooping, stop. That worry and others could be contributing to your pooping problems, and that is something that we here at Squatty Potty cannot accept. We are committed to helping you eliminate your poop, and in so doing, rectify poop related issues. Instead of worrying, take steps to regulate your bowel movements — eat right, drink plenty of water, exercise, relax, and … squat!
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Restoring Intestinal Flora Leads to a Healthy Gut and Happy Poop
At Squatty Potty, we are committed to improving the pooping experience one stool at a time, but we realize that assuming the proper stance is only one of many factors that impact the outcome. Another key to consistently good movements is related to the microorganisms that live inside you, specifically those that reside in your intestines — collectively referred to as intestinal flora or gut bacteria. If you have any doubt about the importance of gut bacteria on colon health and, subsequently, on the squatting experience, consider this: One of the most promising treatments for ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and Crohn’s Disease is the Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT), is a procedure in which healthy bacteria from a donor’s fecal matter (or sometimes just the donor’s fecal matter itself) is transferred to the gastrointestinal track of the recipient. This procedure has been most successful in treating people who have an overgrowth of Clostridium Difficile bacteria, (C. diff for short). Want to know more? Visit The Fecal Transplant Foundation online today. As it turns out, the average person lugs around about four pounds of gut bacteria, some harmful, some beneficial, some neutral. When the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria get out of whack, the harmful bacteria proliferate like microscopic rabbits, the colon gets irritated, and you pay the price… in the bathroom, if you’re lucky enough to get there in time. While an overgrowth of harmful bacteria causes diarrhea, a scarcity of bacteria contributes to constipation. Unlike other components of stool, bacterial cells retain moisture. When your gastrointestinal tract has too few bacteria to loosen the feces and keep them moist, stools become dry, hard, and more difficult to pass. Although the treatments for chronic constipation and diarrhea vary depending on the cause, in many cases, the solution is the same — restore the healthy balance of intestinal flora, which calls for a three-pronged approach: Stop killing your intestinal flora. Reintroduce the beneficial bacteria whose populations have been decimated by antibiotics, poor diet, infection, or other causes. Feed the beneficial bacteria to enable them to crowd out the harmful critters. Stop Killing Your Intestinal Flora Assuming you were born vaginally, as opposed to caesarian, and were breast-fed, you inherited a healthy dose of beneficial intestinal flora from your mom. It was the best gift she could ever give you. An infant’s intestinal flora triggers early development of the immune system. A recent study conducted by researchers at NYU’s School of Medicine and Stanford University’s School of Medicine shows that the intestinal flora of infants born vaginally differs significantly from that of infants born caesarian, which may partially explain the increasing incidence of childhood asthma, allergy, and other illnesses related to the immune system. Since birth, your intestinal flora has been under siege. Antibiotics, in particular, can decimate gut bacteria, both harmful and beneficial, and alter the delicate balance of your intestinal flora. Environmental toxins, including pesticides, food additives, and chemicals in everything from the air we breathe and the water we drink to the household cleaners we use and the clothes we wear, can disturb the balance. Bacterial and viral infections of the gut can also disrupt the balance, increasing populations of harmful microbes while decreasing populations of beneficial microbes. The first step to restoring a healthy balance is to stop or at least reduce these attacks on your intestinal flora. Here are four suggestions: Find a doctor who fully appreciates the importance of gut bacteria on your health and is careful in prescribing antibiotics. If you’re not sure where to start, consider searching the Institute for Functional Medicines’ practitioner search tool. Functional Medicine doctors are like detectives — they like to get to the root cause of illness and know a lot about gut health. Eat a healthy diet, primarily plant-based, along with protein sources that haven’t been subjected to large doses of antibiotics (grass-fed beef, for example, and milk that’s free of antibiotics and growth hormone). Reduce or eliminate consumption of sugar and artificial sweeteners along with starchy foods (simple carbohydrates), such as wheat products, potatoes, rice, and high-glycemic fruits. Drink plenty of pure water — at least about two liters (a half gallon) a day. Reintroduce Beneficial Bacteria: Probiotics Although nothing can match the diversity of microorganisms you were given at birth and acquired throughout the course of your life, you can put your intestinal flora on the road to recovery through the use of probiotics — beneficial microorganisms (live bacteria and yeasts) found in certain foods, including: Yogurt Kefir Sauerkraut Also available as probiotic supplements in pill, powder, or pearl form Tip: If you’re taking a probiotic supplement, look for a quality product that contains at least five billion colony forming units (CFUs) containing lactobacillus and bifodobacterium. Other bacterial strains can be very helpful, as well, but these are the two biggies. Feed Your Beneficial Bacteria: Prebiotics A sick gut is often the product of an unhealthy diet, not just your diet, but the diet you feed the microorganisms in your gut. With probiotics, you merely plant the seeds. Prebiotics are the fertilizer — the “soil” conditioners — that enable the probiotics and other beneficial microbes already in your gut to flourish. Actually, prebiotics are plant fibers (consisting of soluble fiber and non-digestible sugars) that can travel down through the small intestine to the large intestine undigested and feed the beneficial bacteria that reside within the bowels. In a way, prebiotics are even more important than probiotics. With probiotics, you plant only a few strains of beneficial microbes in your gut. With prebiotics, you nourish the diverse collection of microbes that you have acquired via birth and through your many years of life. Combining pre- and probiotics is optimal, because the two work synergistically to boost populations of beneficial bacteria throughout your gut. If you eat a healthy high-fiber diet, you’re already doing plenty to feed your intestinal flora. If you’re not getting enough fiber in your diet, however, taking a prebiotic supplement may help. Keep in mind that nutrition is about more than just your body; you need to think about those trillions of hungry microbes in your gut, the microbes you literally cannot live without. Keep them healthy and they will reward you a trillion-fold. Tune in next week for more about pre- and probiotics. – – – – – – – – Disclaimer: This blog post on intestinal flora provides general information and discussion about medical issues and health-related subject matter. The words and other content provided in this post, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If you or any other person has a medical concern, consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care professional immediately and do not rely on the information presented in this post. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog post or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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How Do You Clean Up after Pooping?
Prior to the turn of the new millennium, nearly everyone in the U.S. cleaned up after pooping in pretty much the same way — by wiping with toilet paper, front to back (especially for women). Admittedly, this post-poop protocol isn’t very thorough. After all, if you get chocolate on your fingers, you lick it off or wash your hands, because wiping with a napkin would leave sticky residue. Similarly, wiping your buns with toilet paper leaves a stinky residue, and licking isn’t the most appealing alternative. Perhaps the most appealing alternative is what people do in most other countries — use a bidet or a similar sink-like device to rinse with water or wash and rinse with soap and water. In recent years, people here in the U.S. started using wet wipes, which they probably learned to do after changing a few diapers. Hey, if it’s good enough for baby buns, it’s good enough for ours! Unfortunately, wet wipes tend to clog toilets and contribute to septic system failure, so someone invented the flushable wipe — one that’s supposed to dissolve after it’s flushed to make it safe for sewers and septic systems (Consumer Reports performed a test that proved otherwise). Another potential problem with wet wipes is that most contain soap and other chemicals that can irritate the sensitive skin of the nether region. Tip: To overcome issues with wet wipes, consider using Toilet Paper Foam by Squatty Potty. This includes witch hazel a astringent (a substance that causes the skin to contract), so it’s commonly used in hemorrhoid pads to shrink hemorrhoid tissues.
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Addressing Having to Poop When You’re Running or Walking
Have you ever had to poop when you’re out running or walking in an area where you couldn’t get to a restroom, porta-potty, or even a friend’s house? You’re not alone, as many runners and walkers have. Even the most seasoned of runners aren’t immune from soiling themselves during a race or training run — an incredibly gross and humiliating experience! In fact, at the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio, the current world-record holder for the 50 km walk race, Yohann Diniz of France, ‘had to go’ during the 50 km competition, an experience that ultimately contributed to him passing out near the 30 km mark, before finishing 8th overall in the race. Needing to go is also a very common experience as evidenced by a host of articles and online discussions about the topic and by the terms for describing it — runner’s trots and runner’s diarrhea (in extreme instances) and poop walk (where you squeeze your cheeks together and shuffle to “hold it in”). According to one review in The International SportMed Journal, various studies have shown that 30 to 83 percent of runners reported experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) distress, which can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and even acid reflux while running. Another study found 93 percent of long-distance triathletes competing in extreme conditions experienced at least one symptom of GI distress. If we all pooped like unicorns, there wouldn’t be a problem. Nobody could possibly be offended by sweet tasting, rainbow-colored poop. Unfortunately, human poop isn’t as enticing. Exploring the causes Numerous factors are thought to contribute to gastrointestinal (GI) distress during periods of intense and extended physical activity, including the following: The physical jostling of internal organs and undigested food and liquids Decreased blood flow to the intestines as the body diverts blood from the intestines to the muscles being used to run or walk, leading to poor digestion and absorption Increased motility (muscle contraction in the GI tract) as exercise stimulates all muscles in your body Increased production of stress hormones and cytokines (inflammatory proteins), particularly prior to a race Increased mucosal permeability, leading to the contents of the GI tract leaking out into the rest of the body All of these factors contribute to looser stools and increased motility, which can result in an incontrollable urge to poop. And if you’re not at a convenient location to drop your runners shorts, and you don’t have some toilet paper to clean up afterwards, the added stress can make the problem even worse. Considering possible solutions Neither pooping your pants nor dropping your drawers outdoors is a pleasant experience, so how do you deal with the issue? Some runners recommend taking an antidiarrheal, such as Imodium, to plug themselves up prior to a run or race, an approach we don’t recommend. Running dehydrates you, which can contribute to constipation. Taking something like an antidiarrheal to harden your stools will exacerbate the problem. Try the solutions listed below instead, and then consult your doctor if you continue to have an overwhelming urge to poop that’s impairing your ability to perform at your best: Coordinate your poops and runs. Try to get on a regular schedule of eating, sleeping, running, and pooping. Regulating your diet and routines helps your body maintain a predictable pattern, and you’ll be less likely to get caught with your pants down. Time your meals. Stop eating three hours before you run or walk to give your body time to digest your food and possibly eliminate some waste. If you’re like most people, you tend to poop shortly after eating as your body tries to make room for more food. Be aware when taking NSAIDs, including aspirin and ibuprofen. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) tend to increase mucosal permeability, contributing to GI distress. Watch your diet. Fat, fiber, chocolate, and sweets are all associated with GI distress while running. Avoid fatty, high-calorie meals at least three hours before a workout or race. Pack toilet paper. Stuff some toilet paper in a pocket or elsewhere. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Plan your route. You can’t do this during a race, but when you’re mapping you training or recreational route, trace a path that includes possible poop stops — restaurants, gas stations, the local library, friends’ houses, wooded lots, and so on, where you can poop in private. Alternatively, consider taking a warm-up jog near your home, so you can do your business before setting out on a longer run. Eliminate more completely prior to a run. Using a Squatty Potty stool, you can eliminate waste more completely prior to a run, thus reducing the amount of unpassed stool in your poop chute. And about that rainbow-colored unicorn poop mentioned at the outset of today’s post…Squatty Potty is now a proud sponsor of The Color Run, “the Happiest 5K on the Planet” — a unique paint race that celebrates health, happiness, and individuality. It’s the largest running series in the world, experienced by over six million runners in more than 35 countries around the globe. While you may not be able to poop rainbows, you will earn the Unicorn Medal upon completion of eight select Color Run races across the United States. For more info, visit: TheColorRun.com and look for the Squatty Potty logo on select 2017 Color Run race listings. – – – – – – – – Disclaimer: This blog post, which touches on issues related to gastrointestinal distress while engaged in running and/or walking activities, provides general information and discussion about medical issues and health-related subject matter. The words and other content provided in this post, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If you or any other person has a medical concern, consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care professional immediately and do not rely on the information presented in this post. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog post or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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Pinching a Loaf and Other Poophemisms
In polite company, we often use euphemisms (nice ways of saying something) when discussing sensitive subjects, such as death and sex. Loved ones don’t die; they “pass away.” The neighbors may be having sex with the windows open, but we prefer to say they’re “doing it.” Along those lines, one of the most uncomfortable subjects to discuss is the elimination of solid waste from the human body — what we at Squatty Potty politely refer to as “pooping.” Because pooping is so common, and poop is so gross, it has become the butt of many jokes and puns and has inspired perhaps the largest collection of euphemisms related to any sensitive subject. You can find plenty of poop euphemism lists online. There’s even a book devoted to such euphemisms cleverly titled Poophemisms: Over 1737 Fun Ways To Talk About Taking a Poop. In the spirit of maintaining an accurate archive, here are 60 of our favorites: Baking a loaf Baking brownies Building a log cabin Busting a grumpy Catching up on some reading Communing with nature Crowning Decorating the Oval Office Delivering a load Dirty bombing Dropping a biscuit in the basket Dropping a bomb/brick Dropping a duke Dropping anchor Dropping the kids off at the pool (note: there are both public and private pools) Evacuating the building Feeding the fish Going number two Greeting Mr. Hankey Growing a monkey tail Gotta go Having the squirts Heaving a Havana Killing the cobra Launching the torpedoes Laying cable Laying down some wolf bait Laying pipe Leaving a floater Letting loose Letting the dogs/hounds out Logging out Making a deposit at the porcelain bank Making fudge Making room for dessert Making sausage Making stinky Needing some alone time Opening the gates Paying off a loan Pinching a loaf Planting corn Prairie dogging Releasing the beast Releasing the hounds Releasing the Kraken Ripping a deuce Rolling a nut log Sawing logs Seeing a man about a horse Shooting the Hershey squirts Sinking the Bismarck Squeezing one out Stocking the pond Taking a load off your mind Taking the Browns to the Super Bowl Taking a dump Taking a seat on the porcelain throne Taking it to the hoop (Our personal favorite) Mind if I try your Squatty Potty?
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The unexpected side-effect of Autism and how the Squatty Potty helps
To date, studies show that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with autism. Autism is referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD and is a developmental disability that can cause a range of mild to severe social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is no “look to autism,” but behaviors, social skills and communication can be markedly different in people with ASD than people without the disorder. Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders vary- and one symptom that parents tend to focus on are the GI issues that can come with an autism diagnosis. Many children with autism suffer from issues involving the gut and their bowel movements (or lack thereof!) Constipation tends to be a common issue in the Autism Community and a common discussion amongst parents- parents that are always trying to find tools that help! Studies from Autism Speaks, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “recently found that children with autism are more than 3.5 times more likely to suffer chronic diarrhea or constipation than are their normally developing peers. Other researchers have found a strong link between GI symptoms and autism severity in children. Some experts have even proposed that toxins produced by abnormal gut bacteria may trigger or worsen autism in some children.”According to renowned pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Timothy Buie at Massachusetts General Hospital, some behavioral signs of GI discomfort in ASD include: Tapping chin Excessive coughing Applying pressure on the abdomen (lying over arms of couch) Chewing of clothes (can also be teething/sensory seeking behavior) Feeding/eating disorders Excessively chewing food or food refusal (difficulty swallowing due to inflammation or eosinophilic gastroenteritis-may be painful to swallow) Hitting/fisting the jaw Sleep disturbances Eating to relieve discomfort Behavior changes, especially self-injurious, aggressive or mouthing behaviors Toileting and potty training can be a difficult thing to teach, even with typical developing children. Kids with autism have unique issues that can arise. Many of our kids have sensory issues that hinder a smooth transition to potty training- they don’t like the bright lights in the bathroom, the echo-sounds of running water, the dangling of their feet from a large, hard toilet. Many kids with autism have rigid diets, causing constipation and encopresis which in turn causes pain, making toileting a scary and painful experience. Communication can be limited and as parents we have to set a toileting routine. When we realized that our children had some of these “gut issues,” we started doing some research. As parents, we sought out information to help our kids with this very real problem. We looked to The Thompson Center for Autism in Columbia, MO and found a tool-kit produced in the ATN/Autism Speaks partnership and found many useful suggestions and ideas. In the process, we saw the Squatty Potty on a favorite show, Shark Tank, and thought, maybe it could help! We ordered two and now, it is an integral tool in our bathrooms- it helped our son feel more comfortable in his toileting routine and helped our older daughter deal with painful constipation as a young child. Our goal at Ella’s Hope for Autism, our non-profit helping families and organizations, and Autism Support Now Behavioral Services, our agency providing therapies to individuals aged 2-18, has always been to help educate and advocate for families that are affected with autism. Our mission is to promote autism awareness and support families affected by autism spectrum disorders. We are committed to funding programs and organizations that provide early intervention services and therapies, family support, education, advocacy and opportunities with the purpose of improving the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families. We offer support to organizations that provide services for children with autism and to organizations that conduct research on the causes and effects of autism. To find out more information, please visit us at http://ellashope.org/donate-now/ and http://autismsupportnow.com/ Bio information: Hope McPheeters is the Executive Director of Ella’s Hope for Autism, a 501c3 non-profit helping families across Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. She volunteers as the Parent and Community Specialist for Autism Support Now Behavioral Services and advocates for individuals through local school districts and organizations. She lives in Kansas City, with her husband and two children, who are both on the autism spectrum.
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