Rachel Irvine is a 21-year-old from Moncton attending a local college pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education. She shared the following story at a breakfast fundraising event: Wake up with Inclusion, held in Moncton on May 8, 2026.
Ginette Arseneau, one of our Moncton team members and Inclusion NB’s Assistant Manager of Inclusive Employment introduces Rachel:
It is truly an honour to introduce Rachel Irvine.
Rachel is a remarkable young woman who reached out to us at Inclusion NB with a dream to obtain her certificate in the Early Childhood program at NBCC. From the very first moment we met, it was clear that Rachel carried something special: determination, courage, and a willingness to work hard for the future she envisioned.
From that day forward, we walked this journey together. Rachel showed up, again and again, ready to take on each step no matter how challenging it may have seemed.
Notre équipe a soutenu Rachel à chaque étape du processus, de la préparation de sa demande d’admission au NBCC à l’exploration des options de financement disponibles. Nous avons également collaboré avec d’autres organismes de la communauté de Moncton, notamment Neil Squire, afin de l’aider à accéder à des technologies d’assistance. De plus, nous l’avons accompagnée dans l’obtention d’appareils auditifs, qui ont eu un impact direct et positif sur sa capacité à réussir dans ses études.
But what stands out most about Rachel isn’t just what she has achieved, it’s why she set out to achieve it.
I will never forget what Rachel shared with me the very first time we met. She said, “I want to show everyone that no matter your challenges, you can succeed. I want to inspire others to never stop reaching for their goals we can achieve them if we truly want to.”
And Rachel… you are doing exactly that.
You are not only reaching your own goals, you are lifting others up along the way. You are showing your community what perseverance looks like. You are proving that challenges do not define us, our determination does.
Rachel, you are an inspiration to all of us. We are so proud of you.
Now, it is my pleasure to turn it over to you, Rachel.
Rachel speaks:
Thank you all for being here and for your continued support.
When I was in preschool, I was identified as having difficulties with cognitive and fine motor skills. By grade 3, the gap between my development and learning and my classmates was growing. To better understand why I was struggling, my parents arranged for me to complete a psychoeducational assessment with a psychologist. Through that process, I finally came to understand the challenges I was facing and got strategies that helped me move forward and overcome them.
Learning was not easy. I didn’t always receive the support I needed in school, but with determination and the help of amazing tutors, I was able to overcome those challenges and build confidence in my abilities. These experiences shaped my perspective and inspired me to pursue a career working with children.
I am now proud to be part of the Early Childhood Education program at NBCC here in Moncton. Being accepted into the program was both exciting and scary. Thankfully, Inclusion NB helped make the transition to post-secondary education much easier. When I met with Ginette, she explained the support available to me and addressed all of my questions. She completed the paperwork for disability grants that helped cover my tuition and books. She also put together an amazing support team. Because of this team, I have the tools and support I need to succeed. It gives me peace of mind knowing I can reach out to Ginette or Marc at Inclusion NB whenever I need help.
Organizations like Inclusion NB are essential. They ensure people with disabilities are supported, valued, and given equal opportunities. Their support, programs, and resources help remove barriers, promote independence, and true inclusion for everyone. I am truly grateful for their support.