Admer is diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome who joined a writing contest in McDonalds Philippines, where he is currently working as a service crew. Fortunately, he won the writing contest. He wrote about his life with Tourette Syndrome and here is his piece:
"I’m Admer Barata from Mendez, Cavite. 24 years old. I have a disorder called Tourrette’s Syndrome and started working as a service Crew in McDonalds Tagaytay Taal at the age of 17.I’ve been working there for 6 years now. Before I applied in McDonald’s, there are questions and doubts that run through my mind such as:
Am I ready to work with other people in an environment more mature and different from school? How will I explain to them what I am going through? Will they understand me? How will other treat me knowing my disorder?
Tourette Syndrome is a Neurological disorder that causes involuntary and or unintentional movements or speaking called TICS. I was diagnosed with this disorder when I was in my 1st year in High School. I am taking medicine that helps me lessen my TICS. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Tourette’s Syndrome and I am one of those people who will carry it for life. It is unpopular and very rare disorder. I’ve been straight forward about my disorder during my interview in McDonalds. I told my manager everything about TS that they should know. McDonald’s has been considerate and accepted my application as long as my medical tests would show that I am fit to work. And it’s been my first ever work! It’s an opportunity for me to work here in McDonald’s for it is known globally as one of the top food-chains. Passing my application gave me confidence despite my long time fear that I will never find a good job because of TS. Being hired gave me a different outlook and challenged me to push myself more to keep these work. McDonald’s changed my life both mentally and emotionally, and financially as well. As a self supporting, my work helped me to sustain my continued medication, which is not easy. My medicine, regular checkup as well as my personal expenses cost more.
At my first year at work, my workmates gradually notice my involuntary movements (nodding, facial twitching and sniffing).It’s not easy. I’ve always been a laughingstock at work because of these. There are times that someone will embarrass me in front of other crews or bullies me during or out of work. But I didn’t fight them back or treat them bad in return. There are a few times may be when the bullying is too much and won’t stop till the end of my duty. But I didn’t give up, and will never be. I know that they tend to discriminate me because they know only a little if not totally unfamiliar of Tourette Syndrome. So little by little I explained to them what Tourette Syndrome is. They’ve been open-minded to people like me. They even feel pity for me at times when my TICS are attacking or when I’m running out of medicine. I gain strength, respect, and support from them, most things I need having Tourette Syndrome.
I do not just work for money and fun. I gain friends and knowledge every day. I learned things that can’t be taught in school and cannot be learned at home. While on duty I become more flexible associating from my workmates and managers to the costumers. I’m able to practice to separate my personal life from my work to be productive on duty. The good quality training the company gives to its employees made me effective on my stations and to be flexible. I learned a lot from it. I become more resourceful on duty, able to do multiple tasks at a time and give good service to the customers without compromising the quality of the products and the company. But at times I can’t please other people though I gave my best foot forward. Things sometimes are out of my hand and complains are being charged against me. On situation like these, I try to apply remedy by talking politely to the customers, apologizing and try to give them exactly what they are asking for. But if it won’t work I ask for the assistance of my workmates especially the managers. Made me wiser each time, reminds me to follow standard procedures and have a presence of mind to avoid conflicts with the customers or with fellow crews. Trainings and FUSOC still helps even though I’ve been to the company for 6 years. Made me effective crew on high peaks season or even on an ordinary day. Good relationship with fellow crews can lessen the pressure on duty whether its graveyard or morning-shift and whatever the station is. Learned to treat people fairly whoever they are and whatever their status in the society is. My experience for six years made me work with beginners nicely. I know they feel as I was as nervous and as clueless as them when I myself was a beginner. I give them a hand when they need to and teach them things they must know generously. Work is a big help for persons like me with TS. It is important to have things that would keep me busy and focused to lessen my TICS and to temporarily forget my disorder and be just like everybody else. My hard work has been rewarded when I was chosen to be the crew of the month for a several times and now as a candidate for crew chief. It inspired me to work more hard.
McDonald’s has been the way for me to meet for the first time a person with the same disorder. One of my co-workers knows him and introduced us. Even my managers supported me fully. Our management team helped me ask permission from the Head Office to shoot in McDonald’s for a documentary for a local TV station. The permission of the head office helped me a lot. The public was informed about Tourette Syndrome. Even the costumers recognized me and admired me for my strength. It’s very heart-warming to get commendations from them because it only shows that they appreciate me for what I am and what I have. My McDonald’s family has been helping me in so many ways. McDonald’s did not look at in a way that most people do. I’ve been accepted and treated as one of the members of its family. I’ve been given opportunities that I am thankful for. McDonald’s is my second family. There are people in that place that are very close to my heart.
They say there’s no harm in dreaming high. So I am hoping that one day, having learned a lot and proven myself at work, I would be a member of the management team. I would like to expand my knowledge and enhance my skills in McDonald’s. I am also one of the Advocates of our organization, Philippine Tourrette’s Syndrome Associaton (PTSA).I want to be an example to every individual with or without TS. I know that every day, each of us goes to different challenges in a society that tends to belittle people with disorders. Discrimination and bullies are always round the corner. I want to inform people that disorders and disabilities is not a hindrance to have a happy and normal life. My disorder is not a burden in my work. It humbles me and McDonald’s is just right here to open opportunities to people like me. And I won’t give them any excuses not excel more in this work. Again, this is Admer Barata and this is my Love to Make a Differennce Story.
"I’m Admer Barata from Mendez, Cavite. 24 years old. I have a disorder called Tourrette’s Syndrome and started working as a service Crew in McDonalds Tagaytay Taal at the age of 17.I’ve been working there for 6 years now. Before I applied in McDonald’s, there are questions and doubts that run through my mind such as:
Am I ready to work with other people in an environment more mature and different from school? How will I explain to them what I am going through? Will they understand me? How will other treat me knowing my disorder?
Tourette Syndrome is a Neurological disorder that causes involuntary and or unintentional movements or speaking called TICS. I was diagnosed with this disorder when I was in my 1st year in High School. I am taking medicine that helps me lessen my TICS. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Tourette’s Syndrome and I am one of those people who will carry it for life. It is unpopular and very rare disorder. I’ve been straight forward about my disorder during my interview in McDonalds. I told my manager everything about TS that they should know. McDonald’s has been considerate and accepted my application as long as my medical tests would show that I am fit to work. And it’s been my first ever work! It’s an opportunity for me to work here in McDonald’s for it is known globally as one of the top food-chains. Passing my application gave me confidence despite my long time fear that I will never find a good job because of TS. Being hired gave me a different outlook and challenged me to push myself more to keep these work. McDonald’s changed my life both mentally and emotionally, and financially as well. As a self supporting, my work helped me to sustain my continued medication, which is not easy. My medicine, regular checkup as well as my personal expenses cost more.
At my first year at work, my workmates gradually notice my involuntary movements (nodding, facial twitching and sniffing).It’s not easy. I’ve always been a laughingstock at work because of these. There are times that someone will embarrass me in front of other crews or bullies me during or out of work. But I didn’t fight them back or treat them bad in return. There are a few times may be when the bullying is too much and won’t stop till the end of my duty. But I didn’t give up, and will never be. I know that they tend to discriminate me because they know only a little if not totally unfamiliar of Tourette Syndrome. So little by little I explained to them what Tourette Syndrome is. They’ve been open-minded to people like me. They even feel pity for me at times when my TICS are attacking or when I’m running out of medicine. I gain strength, respect, and support from them, most things I need having Tourette Syndrome.
I do not just work for money and fun. I gain friends and knowledge every day. I learned things that can’t be taught in school and cannot be learned at home. While on duty I become more flexible associating from my workmates and managers to the costumers. I’m able to practice to separate my personal life from my work to be productive on duty. The good quality training the company gives to its employees made me effective on my stations and to be flexible. I learned a lot from it. I become more resourceful on duty, able to do multiple tasks at a time and give good service to the customers without compromising the quality of the products and the company. But at times I can’t please other people though I gave my best foot forward. Things sometimes are out of my hand and complains are being charged against me. On situation like these, I try to apply remedy by talking politely to the customers, apologizing and try to give them exactly what they are asking for. But if it won’t work I ask for the assistance of my workmates especially the managers. Made me wiser each time, reminds me to follow standard procedures and have a presence of mind to avoid conflicts with the customers or with fellow crews. Trainings and FUSOC still helps even though I’ve been to the company for 6 years. Made me effective crew on high peaks season or even on an ordinary day. Good relationship with fellow crews can lessen the pressure on duty whether its graveyard or morning-shift and whatever the station is. Learned to treat people fairly whoever they are and whatever their status in the society is. My experience for six years made me work with beginners nicely. I know they feel as I was as nervous and as clueless as them when I myself was a beginner. I give them a hand when they need to and teach them things they must know generously. Work is a big help for persons like me with TS. It is important to have things that would keep me busy and focused to lessen my TICS and to temporarily forget my disorder and be just like everybody else. My hard work has been rewarded when I was chosen to be the crew of the month for a several times and now as a candidate for crew chief. It inspired me to work more hard.
McDonald’s has been the way for me to meet for the first time a person with the same disorder. One of my co-workers knows him and introduced us. Even my managers supported me fully. Our management team helped me ask permission from the Head Office to shoot in McDonald’s for a documentary for a local TV station. The permission of the head office helped me a lot. The public was informed about Tourette Syndrome. Even the costumers recognized me and admired me for my strength. It’s very heart-warming to get commendations from them because it only shows that they appreciate me for what I am and what I have. My McDonald’s family has been helping me in so many ways. McDonald’s did not look at in a way that most people do. I’ve been accepted and treated as one of the members of its family. I’ve been given opportunities that I am thankful for. McDonald’s is my second family. There are people in that place that are very close to my heart.
They say there’s no harm in dreaming high. So I am hoping that one day, having learned a lot and proven myself at work, I would be a member of the management team. I would like to expand my knowledge and enhance my skills in McDonald’s. I am also one of the Advocates of our organization, Philippine Tourrette’s Syndrome Associaton (PTSA).I want to be an example to every individual with or without TS. I know that every day, each of us goes to different challenges in a society that tends to belittle people with disorders. Discrimination and bullies are always round the corner. I want to inform people that disorders and disabilities is not a hindrance to have a happy and normal life. My disorder is not a burden in my work. It humbles me and McDonald’s is just right here to open opportunities to people like me. And I won’t give them any excuses not excel more in this work. Again, this is Admer Barata and this is my Love to Make a Differennce Story.
