McRae has a lot of stories to tell with all the jobs he’s done over the years. He’s done logging, he’s worked in the trades, he’s been a chef, and worn many different hats on a wide variety of projects. But somewhere along the way, he found his passion was for teaching.
“I’ve lived an interesting life. What I realized halfway through the journey was I’m the kind of person that does things not for money, not for prestige,” he shares. “I really just want to help people.”
“I like working in education because it gives me the opportunity to meet people where they’re at and give them an opportunity to see where they can go.”
For nearly a decade, McRae worked as a teacher in the public school system before leaving because of the COVID pandemic. Today, he guides participants in our Empower3D program, helping youth with disabilities learn the skills they need to thrive in the manufacturing sector.
As an Employment Specialist, he is the instructor for our British Columbia cohort, leading the 14-week course of pre-employment and skills training that Empower3D participants take on before a 12-week work placement.
McRae brings with him his own experience with disability. He is neurodivergent, and has diagnoses of ADHD, depression, anxiety, dyscalculia — noting that he worked on his math skills by playing trading card games — as well as physical disabilities stemming from his time in the trades.
“That’s why I’m here right at the end of the day, I want to help people that have the same relative problems and challenges and day-to-day struggles as me,” he says. “It was a really hard life. But I can take that perspective and share it with other people who are going through similar circumstances.”
In Empower3D, McRae helps participants work through everything from the soft skills they’ll need to succeed in the job search and the workforce to manufacturing-specific training and certifications. One of the key features of Empower3D is the small group sizes, which allows for more personalized support and individual learning opportunities for youth with disabilities.
“Instead of being one person trying to meet 30 needs in the room, I have four participants here in BC and we have 12 across all of Canada, so we can really focus in on individuals and also tailor things based on their needs. I think that’s part of the huge draw,” he explains.
Having just recently wrapped up the pre-employment and skills training component for the first cohort of Empower3D participants, McRae was proud to see the growth in his students during training.
“It built their confidence. They realized that they could do a lot of things that they had some self doubt about and were able to prove it to themselves — you’re capable,” he says. “It’s kind of empowering that way.”
Are you a youth with a disability interested in developing your skills and gaining valuable work experience in the manufacturing sector? Contact the Empower3D team at empower3d@neilsquire.ca or your nearest Neil Squire office to apply or for more information.
