Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
User submission
1.2K
After 32 Years Of Service In A McDonald’s This Man With Down’s Syndrome Is Finally Retiring
Due to lack of accessibility and sometimes even discrimination, disabled people have a hard time finding paid jobs. However, many of those who manage to seize the opportunity, prove to anyone who thinks that disabled people can’t hold jobs, wrong. Take for instance probably one of the most lovable Northmead McDonald’s employee Russell O’Grady.
RELATED:
Russell, who is now 50 years old, is retiring after spending 32 years working at McDonald’s and set an example to everybody who has worked there with him.
Russell has Down syndrome, a genetic condition that affects about 1 in every 700 newborns in the US each year. In 1984, when he was just 18 years old, Jobsupport helped him find a job at Northmead McDonald’s. Jobsupport is an Australian government initiative that helps people with intellectual disabilities to find paid employment.
Despite not having any job experience, Russell impressed everyone with his job ethics and became a beloved employee to his manager, colleagues and especially customers. Over the years Russell became a local celebrity, with many people coming to visit him at work and greeting him on the street.
Jobsupport assistant manager Kate O’Grady told Daily Mail Australia “He’s an incredibly social person and can hardly walk down the street without people stopping to chat with him or buy him a beer at the club.” At work, Russell greeted everyone with a kind smile, cheerful attitude and showed exceptional dedication to his work.
His supervisor told The Daily Telegraph “We’ve got regular customers who come in to see Russell on Thursday and Friday, and the staff look after him, so we’re going to miss him.”
90Kviews
Share on Facebook
What do you think ?
Carol Emory 6 years ago
I once saw a man with downs syndrome on the bus practicing a speech for a conference later that day. I asked him if he wanted to practice his speech on me. He was very excited that someone wanted to help. I waited on the bus patiently..even going past my stop to give him my full attention. So he did his speech for me, even handing me the pages in case I didn't understand what he was saying. I applauded him for a job well done. The only tip I gave him was to see if they had an overhead and the ability to transfer his speech to a clear film so he could display it while it read it. I wrote down the request for him to give to the organizers in case they didn't understand what he was asking. When he got off the bus, he waved with a big smile on his face. The bus driver saw what happened and was near the end of his route. He told me I could stay on for the ride back to my stop, no extra charge.
Linouchka 99 6 years ago
You are kind of an everyday superhero, you know ? :-) I love your stories, I wish I was a better person...
Load More Replies...
Natasha Forchione 6 years ago
I hope he got a good retirement package for working all those years!!!
Linouchka 99 6 years ago
I love seeing people with Down Syndrome living a happy, fulfilling life. It should be the norm. Here in France, they are soooo neglected that if I was to be diagnosed carrying a child with Down syndrome, I would probably chose to spare him/her a life like the one that awaits him/her in this country, especially once I would be gone... :'(
Petya 6 years ago
I get what you mean, I am in Bulgaria and here it's hell for people with disabilities. I didn't expect it was so bad in France too. If I was pregnant and the diagnostics showed that my child would have a disability, I would probably choose to abort. It would break my heart and I would be miserable, but at least my child won't have to suffer every day. Here social services do very little for people with disabilities, almost no one wants to employ them (even if their disability allows them to work), there are no proper facilities,etc. They are forced to live a life detached form society. Also, usually a family member have to act as a personal assistant, but they not always get any benefits for this or they are so little and such families are struggling financially on top of all else. Not many people would give life to a child if they knew it would have to live like this...it may sound harsh, but it's true.
Load More Replies...
Danish Dynomummy 6 years ago
My uncle has Downs Syndrome. He is 55 and has been working in tha same place since he was 16! I love him so much
Lola 6 years ago
This story makes my heart smile. I used to waitress years ago. There was a guy with Down’s syndrome who would come in. He would always ask the person taking care of him if he could give me a hug. After a while, it became a sweet routine. He gave the most honest and heartfelt hugs. I miss him.
BusLady 6 years ago
Oh, wow. This hits me hard. I have 2 sons who have disabilities, one from birth. They have both worked, but were unable to keep a job for long. They are both now getting disability pay. It breaks my heart that they are unable to work. They both want to. Sometimes, when I see a man working at a job that he doesn't seem to appreciate ("I'm better than this" attitude) it makes me wish that one of my sons could take that job. They *would* appreciate it. 😥😥
Carol Emory 6 years ago
I once saw a man with downs syndrome on the bus practicing a speech for a conference later that day. I asked him if he wanted to practice his speech on me. He was very excited that someone wanted to help. I waited on the bus patiently..even going past my stop to give him my full attention. So he did his speech for me, even handing me the pages in case I didn't understand what he was saying. I applauded him for a job well done. The only tip I gave him was to see if they had an overhead and the ability to transfer his speech to a clear film so he could display it while it read it. I wrote down the request for him to give to the organizers in case they didn't understand what he was asking. When he got off the bus, he waved with a big smile on his face. The bus driver saw what happened and was near the end of his route. He told me I could stay on for the ride back to my stop, no extra charge.
Linouchka 99 6 years ago
You are kind of an everyday superhero, you know ? :-) I love your stories, I wish I was a better person...
Load More Replies... Natasha Forchione 6 years ago
I hope he got a good retirement package for working all those years!!!
Linouchka 99 6 years ago
I love seeing people with Down Syndrome living a happy, fulfilling life. It should be the norm. Here in France, they are soooo neglected that if I was to be diagnosed carrying a child with Down syndrome, I would probably chose to spare him/her a life like the one that awaits him/her in this country, especially once I would be gone... :'(
Petya 6 years ago
I get what you mean, I am in Bulgaria and here it's hell for people with disabilities. I didn't expect it was so bad in France too. If I was pregnant and the diagnostics showed that my child would have a disability, I would probably choose to abort. It would break my heart and I would be miserable, but at least my child won't have to suffer every day. Here social services do very little for people with disabilities, almost no one wants to employ them (even if their disability allows them to work), there are no proper facilities,etc. They are forced to live a life detached form society. Also, usually a family member have to act as a personal assistant, but they not always get any benefits for this or they are so little and such families are struggling financially on top of all else. Not many people would give life to a child if they knew it would have to live like this...it may sound harsh, but it's true.
Load More Replies... Danish Dynomummy 6 years ago
My uncle has Downs Syndrome. He is 55 and has been working in tha same place since he was 16! I love him so much
Lola 6 years ago
This story makes my heart smile. I used to waitress years ago. There was a guy with Down’s syndrome who would come in. He would always ask the person taking care of him if he could give me a hug. After a while, it became a sweet routine. He gave the most honest and heartfelt hugs. I miss him.
BusLady 6 years ago
Oh, wow. This hits me hard. I have 2 sons who have disabilities, one from birth. They have both worked, but were unable to keep a job for long. They are both now getting disability pay. It breaks my heart that they are unable to work. They both want to. Sometimes, when I see a man working at a job that he doesn't seem to appreciate ("I'm better than this" attitude) it makes me wish that one of my sons could take that job. They *would* appreciate it. 😥😥
Related on Bored Panda
408
60