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1 BACB General CEUs $30 1 hr 6 min On-Demand

General CEU: Introduction to Child-Led ABA

Introduction to Child-Led ABA becomes clinically important the moment a team has to turn good intentions into reliable action inside clinical documentation, payer communication, supervision records, and leadership review. In Child-Led ABA, for this course, the practical stakes show up in service continuity, accurate reporting, and defensible clinical decisions, not in abstract discussion alone.

Provider: BehaviorLive — via Mindful Behavior, LLC

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Course Description

Step into the transformative world of Child-Led Applied Behavior Analysis with our comprehensive introduction course designed for practitioners, educators, and caregivers alike. This engaging event will delve deep into the science and theory behind Child-Led ABA, equipping you with practical strategies to enhance engagement and connection in your therapeutic practices. Throughout this course, participants can expect to explore the profound significance of adopting a Child-Led approach to ABA. We'll uncover how prioritizing the interests and natural motivations of children not only enhances their learning experiences but also fosters emotional connections that promote lasting behavioral change. You will discover applicable methods for transitioning from traditional compliance-based strategies to dynamic connection-based practices. This shift not only empowers children but also enriches the therapeutic relationship, making each interaction more meaningful and productive. Additionally, we will prepare you to effectively communicate the importance of this shift to supervisors, therapeutic staff, and caregivers. You will learn how to articulate the benefits of a Child-Led approach, ensuring that everyone involved in the child's care understands the positive impacts of prioritizing connections over compliance. Join us for this enlightening event and take the first step toward transforming your ABA practice into a more inclusive, engaging, and effective approach that celebrates the voice and agency of every child.

What You'll Learn

  1. Describe the science behind the significance of taking a Child-Led approach to ABA.
  2. Applicable ways to begin to make the shift away from compliance based strategies to connection based.
  3. Explain how to communicate with supervisors, therapeutic staff and caregivers about why this shift is recommended.

CEU Credits Earned

Certification BodyCreditsType
BACB® 1 General
IBAO 1

About the Instructor

MH
Maggie Haraburda
M.S., LBS, BCBA

Maggie Haraburda is an Autistic Behavior Analyst and the owner/founder of Unfurling Littles LLC as well as Clinical Director. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont; initially studying in Early Childhood Education but when she took a position working as a Personal Care Assistant for a 6 year old Autistic child, Maggie quickly changed her major to Special Education. She fell in love with building a connection with this child through his special interest, Thomas and Friends. Maggie saw the power of child led play in those hours she spent with him playing with trains on the floor. She found when she looked at the world through his eyes, she could share and celebrate his joy.  During her undergraduate studies Maggie interned in a Reggio Emilia inspired preschool within the infant classroom. She again saw the power of taking a child-led approach and noticed a sense of exploration and imagination in these children that she had not seen before. When she began her student teaching, Maggie was placed in a Trauma-Informed preschool in which many of the students had complex needs. Her first class lesson was on mindfulness and how to process through emotions; already she was dipping her toes into ACT. Maggie's final placement came after receiving the OSEP Grant from the state of Vermont in which she was placed within the state run Early Intervention (EI) program.  Maggie loved the opportunity to support families from so many different walks of life throughout the state of Vermont and help them to connect with their child and one another. She moved back to Philadelphia in 2018 where she received her Masters Degree from Drexel University in Applied Behavioral Analysis. Maggie continued to work in EI throughout her course work and received a certification from The University of Delaware in a program called Attachment Bio-Behavioral Catchup (ABC). She utilized ABC with infants under the age of 2 who had experienced trauma or were identified as at risk. Maggie also participated in a research project with The University of Pennsylvania to become certified in Project ImPACT. This program was created by a BCBA and an SLP that is rooted in a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI).  Maggie is very grateful to have had a strong connection to a trauma-informed child led interaction style prior to stepping into the field of ABA. Throughout her masters she found herself stuck within this place of agreeing with the science of ABA although disagreeing with the way in which the science was being utilized. She pushed forward because of her love of working with Neurodivergent children. Maggie attempted to take a few positions within ABA but these roles were all short lived, she was not able to bring herself to use some of the interventions that were demanded of her by her superiors.​Maggie founded Unfurling Littles LLC to create a model of ABA that is child-led, trauma informed and neurodiversity affirming. She believes that Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) must be utilized within the field of ABA in order to help shift the field in a more compassionate direction. 

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Clinical Disclaimer

All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.

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