That Guy Most of Us Would Like to Be More of
Anton “Toby” Francisco
C & W Tenant Services Coordinator at Google
Early this year, Forbes published Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work in 2021 and one consistently making the list had been Google – the company where young Filipino American Anton “Toby” Francisco had been working for as C & W Tenant Service Coordinator (TSC) for the last three years.
One might hastily add that other brilliant Filipinos are working at Google so why narrow down to 25-year-old Toby as this publication’s cover story for April 2021? Well, Toby has high functioning autism and to land a job at Google with this condition makes him an outstanding cover material. April is the designated Autism Awareness month, and we could not be any prouder than to feature Toby’s story.
Toby’s mom Pinky recalls how Toby had been non-verbal since age three. He was subsequently diagnosed in Singapore (while Francisco family was still based in the Lion City) with autism. Pinky and husband JJ decided to engage a behavior therapist from California to design a program called ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) for Toby where the toddler displayed great improvement only within a few months.
After two years in the program, the family relocated to California. Toby was placed in a special education class throughout elementary until high school and he received services from the school district. At some point, Toby underwent another therapy called RDI (Relationship Development Intervention), which greatly improved his social skills.
As Toby moved to high school, he continued his special education class where he even tried out for the varsity football team and successfully qualified to it, thanks to his perseverance and discipline. After high school, he went through a Career Prep Program in Gavilan Community College in Gilroy, California, and joined an internship program for Adults with Disabilities called Project Search. After these trainings, Toby applied for his current role at Google and clinched the job.
Francisco siblings from L-R: Tina, Toby and Bianca.
We hope that through Toby’s story, readers will learn that people with autism experience regular sensory assault and that they make tremendous effort to act and speak normal. They ultimately learn to predict or guess how to behave based on social norms – something we must appreciate as non-autistic people. The Francisco Family shares how autistic people only need our genuine acknowledgment over their every day adjustments to reach out to us. Amazing effort from an amazing person like Toby whom we wish we can be more of – considerate at the expense of oneself.
FMAG: What is a typical day for Toby Francisco?
TF: On a workday I wake up at 6:00 or 5:30, take a shower, eat breakfast, and prepare to go to work. My mom takes me to the train station. I take the 6:10 train and reach work at 7:45. I start work at 8:00 and finish at 12:00, go to the gym three times a week, eat lunch, then take the train back home. I reach home at around 3:30 or 4:00pm. When I get home, I take a shower and relax; help out at the house. Sometimes I prepare my own dinner.
Once a week, I meet with my ILS (Independent Living Skills) coach who teaches me different skills like cooking, budgeting, cleaning, safety, money management, nutrition and fitness. I live with my parents now, but in the future, when I have my own place, at least I know what to do when I live on my own. I hope to get to drive a car someday so my mom’s also helping me in getting a driver license test. On weekends, I work-out sometimes at the gym and sometimes at home. I hang out with my friends. On Sundays I go to church and eat lunch out with my family.
FMAG: You are so fit given your busy schedule.
TF: I work-out regularly and I watch what I eat. I like to eat healthy food. I used to play (American) football in high school, so I know what workout routines I need to do, like weight training and field workouts. When I was in the football team, our coach always tells us to stay hydrated, so I take lots of fluids. I also make sure to take some rest days to relax my muscles.
Toby with his ever supportive mom, Pinky.
FMAG: You were born in Singapore but moved to the US when you were very young. What do you remember most about your growing up years in Singapore?
TF: I went to nursery and preschool there. I went to Rainbow Valley Pre-school in Yio Chu Kang, then in Kidsville Child Development School. We left Singapore when I was 5 years old. I remember riding the bus a lot and the MRT, eating at hawker centers. My favorite food to eat there was chicken rice.
FMAG: How was it like adjusting to your life in the US as a young boy?
TF: When I was young, I had hard time adjusting. I didn’t talk much, and I always throw a tantrum when we go to new places and do new things. But my therapy started right away so I started getting used to everything. Also, I like that here in the US, we have a car, so I get to ride the car most of the time and drive far places.
FMAG: Tell us about your job at Google. What do you like about it?
TF: I was hired by Cushman and Wakefield, a company that provides services at Google. I have been assigned to work at Google since 2017. As a TSC (Tenant Service Coordinator) I start my day doing my daily Google Covid-19 safety check for all conference rooms assigned to me. I restock my office supply cart with hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial disinfecting wipes. I check that conference room lights and monitors are working properly. If I find any issues with the conference rooms, I report it to my team. I prepare papers and organize the supplies in the cabinet at the printer station. I count inventories of office supplies.
Toby on his daily work routine.
We say, cheers Toby!
What I like about the job is I’m not sitting the whole time in front of a computer or something. I walk from building to building with my cart of office supplies, so I don’t get bored. I have a job coach who helps me, when needed. I have a great manager who supports me in my work. I like it too when we have special holiday events. We have games and I get to win some prizes. I also get to eat free lunches and they’re usually delicious and from different kinds (of cuisine) like Mexican food, Indian Food, Japanese Food, and American Food. I also like going to the Google gym. When I tell people that my workplace is at Google, they’re surprised, and they think I’m a smart computer programmer.☺
FMAG: What are some of the challenges you face at work and how do you deal with them?
TF: Sometimes I need help learning new things, so I try to write them in my notebook. But my Job coach is always there to help me. Also, the Google campus is quite far from my house. It is 21 miles away. So, I spend a long time in the train. But I’m glad I have my phone to keep me busy. Sometimes, I just sleep in the train.
FMAG: What keeps you busy outside of work?
TF: Working out, playing video games in Xbox One like Madden 21, NBA 2K21 and Call of Duty, doing chores at the house, laundry, going shopping, and buying some groceries.
FMAG: Coming from a close-knit family, what life lesson did you learn from your parents and siblings?
From my parents: always do your best, help people if you can, and be nice to people by saying please and Thank you.
From my siblings: Sometimes, it’s OK to make mistakes.
FMAG: Who is the greatest influence in your life and why.
TF: Mom and Dad because they’re always there to help. They teach me life skills. They also wanted me to do what normal kids get to do. They let me play football in high school, even though they’re very scared that I might get hurt or injured. They just prayed all the time that I will not get hurt. They worry also, that I might not understand or be able to do the different “plays” of the game.
Early family life of the Francisco family in Singapore from L-R: JJ, Bianca, Toby, Pinky and Tina.
Joining the football team was one thing I love the most. My football coaches taught me about working hard because we practice in the field even if it’s hot, cold, or raining. They also taught me discipline, to follow the rules and to work well with my teammates. They taught me that studying is important because if my grades don’t make it, I get kicked-out of the team. My teammates treated me well, even if I’m the only one in the team in special ed. They were patient with me, and they always made me feel a part of the team.
FMAG: Coming from Filipino parents, what do you like about Filipino culture?
TF: Calling Ate and Kuya, asking blessing (mano po) from our parents, friends and family, going to church on Sundays and praying the rosary, family reunions, doing folk dancing when I was little, eating lumpiang Shanghai, palabok, halo-halo, BBQ.
Autism was catalyst to the Francisco’s move to the US.
Toddler Toby - active like most children his age. Superbly loved by his family - and the rest of us.
FMAG: If you can talk to your 8-year-old self, what would you say?
TF: Don’t be scared to learn new things. You might be good at it. Also don’t be scared to ask for help.
