Crescent wrenches and life skills: maintenance engineer teaches, inspires young adults with disabilities

Maintenance engineer Craig Johnson has formed a special bond over crescent wrenches and PVC pipes with his 21-year-old mentee, Wyatt Walsh, through volunteer program at M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center for young adults with disabilities.

Johnson and Walsh met a few months ago and have quickly become the hospital's standout maintenance duo. Walsh is a volunteer at Northland Medical Center through the Onward Transition Program, an extension of Princeton Public Schools designed for people with disabilities, ages 18 to 21, to build skills for independent living and personal and career development. Fairview is a longtime community partner with the program and creates opportunities for young adults enrolled in the program to gain job skills and experience through various hospital departments, including under the supervision of Johnson in the maintenance department.

A heart for mentorship

Johnson saw something outstanding in Walsh right away.

"The first day that I met him, he told me, 'I want to turn wrenches,'” Johnson recalls. "He's the first student I've had with that much energy. I knew I had to keep him active."

The two started off learning the layout of the hospital, putting up signs, replacing light bulbs, and fixing hand sanitizer dispensers. But Johnson realized quickly that Walsh could do more. So, Johnson built a special space in a storage room in the hospital, called "Wyatt’s wall," so that Walsh can learn plumbing skills. Wyatt’s Wall is designed like a hospital bathroom and even includes a toilet and sink.

"Craig has a heart for kids with special needs,” says Becky Hanson, a business partner in volunteer services at Northland Medical Center. “He’s taken Wyatt under his wing and goes above and beyond to create special learning opportunities for Wyatt.”

Johnson hopes to teach real-life job skills and inspire these young adults to pursue careers in maintenance. Walsh, who’s had a lifelong passion for machinery and mechanics, wants to follow in Johnson’s footsteps.

"Craig helps me learn to fix stuff," Walsh says. "He is awesome."

Walsh works at Northland Medical Center every Monday for two hours. He is joined by Jennifer Elton, a volunteer with M Health Fairview and consultant with Illies Consulting who serves as a job coach for Walsh and supports and guides his career development.

“Wyatt and Craig have a fun dynamic,” she says. “Craig really listens to Wyatt and is able to see his strengths and builds upon those.”

For Johnson, that’s what this experience is all about: identifying and growing people’s interests and abilities while forming a special relationship.

“I try to read these students,” Johnson says. “You have to find their niche and hook into that. I found Wyatt’s right away – he’s very energetic and wants to do things.”

And Johnson has certainly excelled at that with Walsh.

“One day, Wyatt came into the shop and said, ‘I missed you,’” says Johnson. “His personality is amazing. I just want to show him the ropes."

Want to volunteer at an M Health Fairview hospital or location? Learn more about opportunities with our health system across the Twin Cities region.