Saturday Night Putzing
with Maggie Haraburda
Behavior Bites Podcast - Episode 09Mar 8, 2023Have you ever seen a doctor for an issue, only for your concerns to be dismissed?
Have you ever tried to fit in so hard that you lost who you actually are?
In today’s show— Maggie shares her path to becoming a neurodiverse affirming business owner and her own recent autism diagnosis.
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Amuse-Bouche
What does unfurling littles mean?
Appetizer
How did you get into Behavior Analysis?
Palate Cleanser
Donut Friday
Entree
What was the process of receiving your new diagnosis?
Dessert
What was your biggest breakthrough with a client?
Nightcap
What is your neurodiversity affirming provider meetup in Philadelphia?
Excerpts from the Episode
(*Paraphrased highlights)-
Unfurling Littles is the company I started, and the name comes from a client of mine.
There was a moment about two years ago when I got to the session and she went, “Look, Maggie, the leaf is unfurling.” The way that she said it really stuck with me. I loved the imagery of the process of a leaf opening up.
It's a lot of what I think about in my practice today. I'm not trying to change children in any way, shape, or form, but really trying to help them open up to become their full selves, and to really begin to accept themselves fully.
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I recently received my diagnosis (at 28). I’ve always worked with younger children, usually under the age of five and the last two years I started working with some older autistic females.
I was shocked how much I was relating to them, everything they were talking about and doing. I had a few clients ask me if I was on the spectrum.
It hadn’t occurred to me, but growing up there were a few indicators like, I didn't talk until I was three and I was a toe-walker.
I met with a psychologist and was misdiagnosed as bipolar which is very typical.
I was going through the report with a friend and things were jumping out like difficulty with nonverbal reasoning, rigidity with routine, sensory processing challenges. That just sounded like autism.
I reached out to a psychologist here in Philadelphia, and within 15 minutes he started referring to me as autistic. When he said that my heart just melted. I felt seen in a way that I never had before.
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I teamed up with Jamie from Speech Baby, LLC with the goal to create a network of providers who believed in neurodiverse affirming practices for children and adults.
We meet quarterly right now. We have dentists in our group, doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, behavior analysts and even some technicians. We're going to start having parents join us.
Community is really important. People need people who are going through something similar. I need people in my life who are also sober. I need people in my life who are autistic. I need people in my life, who share the same interests as me. I need people in my life who are doing something similar in their fields.
The goal of creating the group was really to help reduce that barrier of having providers that you trust, rely on, and can collaborate with.
I have learned so much since starting it, and I have built so many meaningful connections. I can now help families also create meaningful connections with providers that they can trust.
Get in touch with me if you are in Philadelphia or would like to start your own meetup!
ABOUT Maggie
Maggie Haraburda, M.S., LBS, BCBA, (she/her)
* Visit her website: unfurlinglittles.com* Follow Maggie on Instagram: @unfurling_littles* Email Maggie: maggie.h@unfurlinglittles.com
Maggie is a neurodivergent BCBA who runs a small private practice in Philadelphia. Maggie’s business, Unfurling Littles, combines child led ABA with Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT).
Maggie is also working alongside other practitioners within her city to build a community of providers who are Neurodiverse Affirming. Maggie’s hope is to help move the field of ABA forward, with compassionate care.
She also has over 150 house plants.
Visit my Podcast page to learn more about Behavior Bites!
