Sergeant finds job 'well-suited' to being autistic
"I was diagnosed later in life although I always suspected the differences from growing up, my career and everything else."But what I found was really wonderful and helped me in my own job is that within the Devon and Cornwall Police we have a neurodiversity support network and that was one of the helping hands that gave me the confidence to then get myself assessed... and ultimately got my diagnosis," he added.
'Super anxious'
The National Autistic Society describes autism as a condition which influences how people experience and interact with the world and says more than one in 100 people in the UK are autistic.Sgt Linscott said he was not surprised when he was diagnosed."Autistic people will recognise that there are elements where you will mask or you will present yourself in a certain way to perhaps hide some of the inner things that you're going through yourself," he said."So you could be super anxious about a certain thing that's about to happen, albeit once I've rehearsed how I'm going to conduct myself, it then becomes a bit more predictable."Then it becomes safe and then you can relax completely."But it doesn't always work out that way, which is why I then rely on my colleagues in the same network."
Sgt Linscott now peer supports newly-diagnosed police officers and those who think they may be neurodivergent."We share experiences and we share advice because even though there's a lot of commonality between autistic people, we're all so different," he explained."So if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person."But because I have an understanding of my own neurodivergence, I can relate to theirs. "I have helped a few officers back to work or helped them stay at work. "As this is a two-way exchange, the whole process helps me too - I now know I am not the only one who perceives the world this way."
Force equality, diversity and human rights officer Teresa Berridge works alongside Sgt Linscott and said: "Being an autistic person... this enables him to put himself in the shoes of others with, perhaps, a greater desire to truly understand what that person's own experience is and how different situations may impact them."Sgt Linscott is a really well-known police officer in his local area and this is testament to his ability to engage and understand people, to listen and hear their concerns and actively seek out solutions to help them."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Baby boy joy as 12 born to staff on Lincoln hospital ward
Staff on a hospital ward have given birth to 12 baby boys in three years – with not a girl in nurses and other healthcare professionals were all permanent members of staff on the Rainforest ward at Lincoln County a community children's nurse and mum to 18-month-old Olly, said: "Everyone just says, well you're going to have a boy, because you've either touched something on the ward or there's something in the water."It's quite nice to be part of the boy mum clan." "It's amazing," she added. "We've all been able to talk about our experiences, labour, different ages and developments. It's so good to be able to relate with one another." Her colleague Ellie, a junior sister on the ward, said: "It's just such a weird coincidence. "I think I knew I was having a boy, because everyone else was. It's just what we do on Rainforest." The story is tinged with sadness as the 12th baby boy, Caleb, died at 23 weeks into the pregnancy – though mum Emily says she is happy to a part of the the mums and sons got together this week, Caleb was represented by a beautiful blue teddy is one of two children's wards at the hospital and features a play room and sensory a community nurse and mum to Archie, described the number of boys – rather than girls – being born to staff there as "a bit surreal"."More just keep on being added to the boy gang," she said. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and here to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices.
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
'I died for 10 minutes - this is my second innings'
A man who had a cardiac arrest while playing cricket has described being saved by a defibrillator as his "second innings".Simon Parker, 59, was batting for Calverhall Cricket Club in Shropshire when he collapsed in June, and he died for more than 10 minutes. His son administered CPR and an off-duty firefighter used the club's was the first time it had been used since it was installed by former club cricketer, Paul Carter, who they had a minute's silence for just before the match started. "I remember starting to walk down the wicket, going dizzy, and that's about as much as I remember. Then I remember them putting me in the helicopter," he said. Mr Carter had campaigned tirelessly for a defibrillator to be kept on site before he died."It's a poignant, divine... moment, really, the fact it was that day that it got used," said firefighter Matt Wilson. "I remember once in the middle of it sort of waking up; they turned me on my side and I was sick, but other than that, I don't really relate to what actually happened," said Mr said his son, Alex, who stepped in to do CPR, had been his "rock" for years."You wouldn't wish that on anybody, really. He's very strong-willed, and of course he is a very strong lad.""I suppose he wouldn't have cared if he'd hurt me or not; he was determined, and he did what he needed to do."I've still got the bruises to show for it."Oliver Griffiths, first team captain, was there. "Watching a son trying to save his dad's life was quite emotional," he said."It still affects me a little bit now, just that image of Alex." "These defibs, they need to be everywhere, don't they?""They're fantastic; they save people's lives, and that's it."You don't really think you're ever going to use one yourself."He told the BBC that he believed all sports clubs should have one and that more training was needed to teach people how to use the wake of the incident, the opposition side, Wellington, held free resuscitation training sessions for CPR and defibrillator use last Friday and on Monday. Mr Parker said the event had been hard to come to terms with, despite not identifying with much of the experience."It's just so unreal for something like this to happen, and then you wake up the next morning.""It has been hard, actually, going to sleep at night and then wondering whether you are going to get up the next morning."The experience has changed much of his life - he needs to take things slowly and is on a series of medications."I'm on 14 or 15 tablets every day," he said. 'It's another chance at life' Looking ahead, he hopes to eventually play again."I think the biggest job will be standing out there, being able to have the guts after what happened to go out there, because that's the bit I remember," he said."That is going to be very difficult."I don't think the fielding is going to be the problem; I think it's just the actual standing in the middle and batting."He added that it had made him reflect on his life."Like they say, you only get one chance in this world, but if you get two - make the best of it.""Another chance, isn't it? It's that dropped catch where you keep going." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I posted this photo of my eye on Reddit and strangers demanded I see a doctor urgently - they saved my life
A woman was saved from a potentially fatal medical episode after Reddit commenters urged her to immediately go to hospital. The young woman uploaded a picture to the 'Eyes' subreddit under the heading 'Why are my eyes so dilated?'. 'Woke up today and I honestly can't tell you whether they were as dilated as this or not in the morning as I wasn't really paying attention, but by the evening, as I was in the bathroom I noticed how freaking dark my eyes were and how huge my pupils are,' she wrote. 'The only thing I've been feeling have just been headaches, what do I do? I also attached a pic of my eyes "normal", a picture taken not too long ago.' Within hours of sharing the post, worried commenters urgently recommended the woman, who is from the UK, get to hospital. 'You need to see a doctor. Go. Go. Go!' read the top response. 'The combination of headaches and dilated pupils is very concerning. Please see a doctor ASAP.' 'I think that can be a sign of something neurological happening. Especially with the headaches happening too,' another added. Another said: 'Please go to the ER and show them these pictures. This is a sign of something going on in your brain. This type of dilation that is not related to light is not good, especially if both eyes are dilating at different rates.' Initially, the woman replied saying she was stunned at the suggestions calling for her to seek urgent medical care, explaining that she'd planned to 'wait it out' because her 'local GP is closed' and she couldn't afford emergency medical treatment in a hospital, even though her eyesight was getting worse. But in response, many of the concerned strangers doubled down and urged the woman to ignore the costs and seek emergency care immediately. 'Please go to the ER… this isn't worth losing your vision, or having something worse happen,' one explained. 'The pupils, headache, and worsening vision is something that will be taken very seriously at the hospital. I know you said you can't afford anything right now, but can you afford permanent neurological damage? Please don't "wait it out".' 'Neurological events are nothing to take lightly, they become fatal very quickly,' another added. Many who worked in the medical community also agreed that there was no time to waste. An ICU nurse wrote: 'Go to the ER right absolutely now. This could be nothing. But combined with the headaches it could be an absolute medical emergency. Your life could be in serious danger.' Why should you see a doctor if your pupil is dilated? Most of the time, dilated pupils will go back to normal size on their own. If pupils dilate suddenly, occur after a traumatic injury or cause headaches and confusion, seek medical attention immediately. The most common causes of dilated pupils are: - An eye exam (eye drops used to examine nerves and retina) - A reaction to medication - A brain injury - The use of recreational drugs - Sexual arousal (increased production of oxytocin hormone) - Adrenaline Some medical conditions or injuries also dilate pupils, including anisocoria, eye injury, head trauma, microvascular cranial nerve palsy and migraine. Although it is normal for dilation to occur based on changes in light, mydriasis (when the pupil doesn't respond to light) could be a sign of an eye injury or problem within the brain, like a head injury, tumor or stroke. Source: Cleveland Clinic The Reddit poster initially planned to 'wait it out' and see if her eye resolved by itself, but later decided to seek medical attention on the urging of the comments from the Reddit community And it turns out, the Reddit community were spot on. Across two follow-up posts, the woman revealed that she'd eventually decided to go to hospital on the back of the urging of the community - and it proved to be a lifesaving move. After initially contacting NHS 111, which is the UK's non-emergency medical helpline, an ambulance was arranged to take her to hospital for a brain scan. 'Suddenly a load of people were rushing in - turned out I had a blood clot in my brain that was pushing onto a nerve which made my eyes like that,' the woman recounted. 'They quickly put me on blood thinners and I'm currently still in the hospital and will be for a few days. 'The doctor said if I had called 111 any later, I probably would have had a stroke and since I was alone there was a very real chance I would have possibly died.' The grateful woman proceeded to thank everyone on the forum who had urged her not to ignore her symptoms and take action. 'I just wanted to thank y'all as I genuinely was planning to sleep this off, I don't know whether I still would be here if it weren't for you all screaming at me to go to the ER,' she said. In subsequent days, the woman shared a further 'update' about her condition. 'I had high levels of homocysteine, around 24… and deficiencies with a few vitamins, mainly one called folic acid and B6,' she wrote. 'I also had high levels of estrogen even though I don't take any contraceptives or anything but we are pretty sure it was caused by [a type of tea], which I drank often.' 'This combination is what likely caused the blood clot to form [in my brain].' She also explained that she subsequently may 'have some damage to the nerve, meaning my eyes will just react slower to light changes or my eye might be a little more droopier'. 'But overall I'm so grateful to be walking away with super minor things. I could have easily got permanent brain damage,' she said. The woman also chastised herself for being unaware that emergency care in the UK was 'free' - adding that she should never have hesitated to seek help. The entire thread - along with the subsequent updates on the woman's health - left Reddit readers stunned. 'HOLY S*** REDDIT SAVED A LIFE TODAY,' read one reply. 'I know that we don't allow medical advice [on Reddit], but y'all saved a person's life. Please, if there's someone with concerning medical issue, see a doctor,' seconded another. 'The complete f****** relief I felt when reading your update was immense. I'm so glad you're okay,' another wrote. 'I saw your update comment - I audibly gasped. To anyone who reads this - if an eye is inexplicably dilated, GO TO THE ER.' 'Honestly, just having someone to go "that's not normal, GO TO THE DOCTOR" is the push that many need in order to actually get medical help,' one concluded.'
