The Irish Association of Supported Employment Job Shadow Initiative: A tool for supported employment

INTRODUCTION: Ireland was pioneering in 1988 with the early demonstration of the Supported Employment model through the EU funded 'OPEN-ROAD' project; this three-year innovative project introduced adults with moderate and severe levels of intellectual disability in Dublin to ordinary jobs. Now in 2013, this innovativeness continues as the sixth year of the Irish Association of Supported Employment Job Shadow Initiative successfully concluded in April 2013 engendering 19 secured jobs and 446 job shadows. The Irish National Job Shadow Initiative is designed to give people with disabilities a unique opportunity to get a close up look at the world of work for one day or one week in April each year, enabling them to discover and learn about the skills and education required to compete and succeed in the work place. An implementation framework is outlined to guide organisations on how to establish their own successful Job Shadow Initiatives. The first European wide Job Shadow will take place on April 22nd 2015. This is a EUSE partnership project led by Irish Association of Supported Employment. RESULTS: The Job Shadow Initiative commenced in Ireland in 2008 with 238 employers involved; this year there were 429 employers involved. There have been 2165 job shadows since 2008, and overall, 78 jobs have been secured. CONCLUSIONS: The Job Shadow Initiative works; it is a particularly apposite tool that can be used as part of the Best Practice Supported Employment arena. It brings extensive benefits for job seekers, potential employers, Supported Employment services/Job Coaches, the general public and the families of people with disabilities. It also can be used as a tool to action national social inclusion policy.