Katherine Kowalski

Why do we override our gut instincts to stay socially acceptable? In the fallout from the Raynor Winn revelations, I’ve been thinking about how #BeKind culture and the pressure to be emotionally agreeable have made healthy scepticism feel… unkind. Not a cosy read, but hopefully a thought provoking one. #raynorwinn #memoir #thesaltpath passthesaltwater.substack.com/p/has-bekind-c…

Wonder how long it’ll be before Netflix announces it’s dropping a documentary on #TheSaltPath Scam, with Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs playing Sally and Tim Walker? Let’s face it, it’ll be a lot more interesting than the frankly terrible book/film…

I know I’m not alone in having wondered for a very long time at what point the story behind #TheSaltPath would be exposed as disingenuous. I’m horrified but not surprised to learn it’s way worse than that… Incredible investigative journalism.

I've just heard that my Substack publication 'Pass The Salt Water' is now #40 Rising in the Parenting category on Substack. I can't believe it! So ironic given it wasn’t built with a strategy or a content plan, and I spend my day job selling the importance of strategy! Nope, this stuff just gets written in the scraps of time I can find, about what parent carer life actually feels like. Thanks to all the readers, sharers, subscribers. You've made my day. 🔗 passthesaltwater.substack.com #parentcarer #substack #neurodivergentwriter #SEND

Back on here after three years. Just published a new piece on Pass The Salt Water about parent carer life, the things we don’t say out loud, and why “what doesn’t kill you” doesn’t make you stronger. It just makes you tired. Or, maybe, a bit weird? It’s not a rant. It’s not a sob story. It’s just what it is. 🔗 passthesaltwater.substack.com/p/what-doesnt-… #parentcarer #neurodivergentparent #disabledchildren #SEND

@desertrose1969 Plymouth, and every seaside town across the Tamar here in Cornwall should give you hope. A sea of red and yellow.

@doctor_oxford Same here in Cornwall. The red and yellow map is a sight to behold.

There is no longer a single Tory MP in Oxfordshire 😮

@doctor_oxford @carolvorders Isn’t she! What a woman 💪. So grateful for her, and your, contributions to improving our politics and public services.

.@carolvorders YOU ARE BLOODY MAGNIFICENT. EVERY SINGLE WORD OF THIS 🔥🔥🔥

@ThatWhiteGuy113 @PolitlcsUK Labour @annagelderd

@PolitlcsUK Who took Sheryll Murray’s seat?

🚨 BREAKING: There are now no Conservative MPs left in Cornwall

@LeeTrewhela What news to wake up to! Well done @annagelderd for SE Cornwall #Labour

Wow - no more Conservatives left in Cornwall. Labour have won in SE Cornwall too. The sea of blue is no more. Astonishing.

@LeeTrewhela The exit poll has SE Cornwall down as ‘too close to call’. Anna Gelderd has run a good campaign. I’m so hopeful we might see the back of Sheryll Murray. Whatever one’s politics, she has done embarrassingly little for the constituents over her time as MP.

According to the exit poll, Truro/Falmouth, St Austell/Newquay and Camborne/Redruth go red, N Cornwall and St Ives go orange and SE Cornwall stays blue.

@autisticrealms Ah yes. Like a magnet stuck fast. Been there in both my professional and personal life resulting in burnout that lasted many months. I've learned now to give myself a daily stopping point for meditation that seems to break the cycle.

@WordsmithKK I am noticing that nearly all replies have been positive so far about a happy flow state, I am also aware there is a more negative channel in burnout too perhaps those that are in that space aren't writing about it on twitter?!

My new Social media project for #autistic people: how would you describe #monotropism or your experience of being #monotropic? (I will create anonymous infographics /blog from responses, dm if you prefer I don’t share your response or have Qs). Thank you x #MentalHealthMatters

@DrHannahBelcher @AuDHD_SLT Would love to talk to you about this. About the differences between self-directed change and externally imposed change, specifically.

@AnnMemmott Oh all the time. Especially in healthcare settings as a parent carer. My concern, and my questions, especially when I am tired, are misinterpreted as anger and aggression.

@AutisticCoach_ Spiritual but definitely not religious. I have no particular faith but nurture a deep connection to Mother Nature and the universe (forces bigger than us, essentially). I can seek out connections and patterns there in an autonomous way, which organised religion doesn’t offer.

Do my #ActuallyAutistic comrades consider themselves to be “spiritual” (whatever that means to you) or people of faith? How does that connect to your autistic self and brain? #AskingAutistics

@AutisticCallum_ Literally had this conversation with someone this afternoon. It was like a lightbulb moment! (eg for me, sad isn’t crying, it’s mute and heavy limbed. I only cry when I’m really really angry but for most of my life I thought I didn’t feel sadness).

Many autists find it hard to recognise their emotions because we are taught that emotions each look a certain way that often differs to how our expression of them looks. E.g, when I’m sad, I don’t cry, but feel heavy. When I find something funny, I rarely laugh, but smile mildly.

@caitlinmoran I’m watching Fraggle Rock ‘Secret Society of Poobahs’ with my little boy and the similarity is astounding. #coronation

Hahah this is all really silly, isn't it? Penny Mordaunt's holding a sword and most of the men are wearing camp super-hero capes.

@SpcialNdsJungle @CaptainK77 Awesome thank you 😊

@WordsmithKK @CaptainK77 specialneedsjungle.com/guide-ofsted-c…

Similar mixed picture in Cornwall’s Ofsted/CQC Area SEND Inspection report: Parents, do you agree with the findings? files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/502157…

@SpcialNdsJungle e.g. Warrington's report says local offer needs improving. Cornwall's report doesn't mention the local offer, despite it being a total cluster. Warrington's report mentions specialist schools, Cornwall's doesn't really. Confusing! Thoughts? 2/2

@SpcialNdsJungle Do you clever people at SNJ know what the inspection criteria are for these joint Ofsted/CQC SEND inspections? The reports seem so vague. How can we compare areas? What is categorised as 'good' vs 'needs improvement', what are the metrics? 1/2