In 1986, a person with Down syndrome in Australia stayed at home. That was normal.
Russell O’Grady was 18 when he started at the Northmead McDonald’s in Sydney. He got there with help from Jobsupport, a program that helped people with moderate intellectual disabilities find work. He started out packing party boxes. Over time, he took on other duties, including in the kitchen.
He worked at the same restaurant for 32 years. He retired in December 2018, at 50, to look after his health.
What happened during those years can’t be captured in a contract. Courtney Purcell, his supervisor, said that some customers came specifically on Thursdays and Fridays to see him. Others wouldn’t even come in if he wasn’t working. His coworkers looked out for him.
His father, Geoff, said people would stop him in the street to shake his hand. He also said the job had given him a different perspective on life. His brother Lindsey said Russell loved his job.
Gabrielle Bartlett, from Jobsupport, summed it up this way: they were pioneers in showing that people with moderate disabilities can contribute to the workforce.
Sometimes change doesn’t start with a law. It starts with someone opening a door, and with a place where your turn is waiting.
