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THE TOP TEN THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GIRLS ON THE SPECTRUM

https://medium.com/specialolympics/user-submission-from-the-uk-maura-campbell-on-why-its-about-more-than-the-r-word-f4b44ff2a8d This article appeared on March 8, 2017 on Spectrum Women Magazine   A Spectrum Women collaboration, edited by Maura Campbell In honour of International Women’s Day, the Spectrum Women writers have compiled a list of things we think it’s particularly important for parents or carers of girls on the autism spectrum to know. Maura Campbell…

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WHAT’S IN A WORD?

This article appeared on February 21, 2017 on Spectrum Women Magazine   by Maura Campbell Words are powerful.  They allow us to express our thoughts, feelings and opinions. Words can also hurt.  Whoever coined the old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me” must have led a charmed life. I…

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What I wish I hadn’t said to my colleague

This article appeared on August 29, 2017 on BBC News Website as part of BBC OUCH Tales of the Misunderstood. An event where seven people with a disability or mental health difficulty performed a story about awkward moments as part of BBC Ouch's storytelling event at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. by Maura Campbell  and images by Charlotte Edey…

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About me

I am a features writer for Spectrum Women Magazine and have also written on autism and learning disability for a number of other publications. I live in the Northern Ireland countryside with my husband Stephen, son Darragh, Ash the assistance dog and Baz the cat (who is no help whatsoever). I was diagnosed with Asperger…

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AUTISM IN THE WORKPLACE

This article appeared on September 8, 2016 on Spectrum Women Magazine   by Maura Campbell I was born with the social skills of a used teabag. Seriously, I thought maybe the other kids in school had been handed a manual on “peopling” one day when I was off sick or something.  But thankfully I’ve learned enough over…

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“So What Exactly is Autism?”

This article appeared on April 1, 2017 on Spectrum Women Magazine   by Maura Campbell Around this time of year, I usually get asked to speak or write about autism.  I’m happy to do my bit. April is Autism Awareness Month and 2nd April is World Autism Awareness Day. It’s a good opportunity to engage with people outside…

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What Autistic Pride means to me by

This article appeared on June 18, 2017 on Spectrum Women Magazine   by Maura Campbell “What’s wrong with him, then?”  The man gawped at my nine-year-old son, taking in his noise-cancelling headphones, the belt around his waist and the strap attaching him to the dog. He then turned his full attention to me. He stared, demanding a…

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Disclosure – The Pros and Cons

This article appeared on April 22, 2017 on Spectrum Women Magazine   by Maura Campbell Whether to disclose an autism diagnosis is an important issue for many newly diagnosed adults. I would never presume to tell someone in that position what to do, though I would encourage them to take a bit of time to think about…

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Why I Write… A Spectrum Women Collaboration

This excerpt is from a collaborative article that  appeared on June 12, 2017 on Spectrum Women Magazine   by Maura Campbell Maura Campbell I have always loved writing. In school, the other kids groaned when we were set an essay but I beamed. It let my fertile imagination run free. It made me feel capable. It soothed…

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The Glass of Milk

This article appeared on July 24, 2017 on Spectrum Women Magazine   by Maura Campbell The teacher, a stern woman of a certain age, folded her arms across her ample bosom and stared intently over the top of her thick-rimmed glasses.  The reason for her evident irritation cowered before her – a painfully shy seven-year-old girl. A…