2. Margaret Halloran Employment Development Officer

3. Open Door is a project working with employers in the Border, Midlands, West (BMW) region to promote equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities using the supported employment model.

4. CONNECT WITH US : www.iase.ie  Aimed at employers in the BMW region  Managed by the IASE  Aims to build awareness among employers to consider people with disabilities when recruiting  Focus on people with disabilities who are not currently at work

5. CONNECT WITH US : www.iase.ie (in purple) The Border, Midland & Western (BMW) Region covers 13 counties, six border counties of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth; the three western counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and the four midland counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

6. Official launch of Open Door in August 2013

7. What do we aim to achieve? No.’s of employers that IASE will engage by April 20151,500 No.’s of employers that have engaged in follow up supports500 No. of employers that have provided jobs60

8. www.iase.ie  Target HR Managers/Directors and General Managers/Owners in Multinationals and SME’s in all sectors  Employer Relationship Management The Open Door approach

9. www.iase.ie The Open Door approach  Explain the supported employment model and build continued awareness  Provide information on the services and supports available

10. The Open Door approach  Demonstrate “the win win” for employers  Testimonials/resource packs  Active engagement e.g. cold calling, direct mailing, pre- arranged meetings  Link between service & employer

11. How are we doing this? CONNECT WITH US : www.iase.ie

12. CONNECT WITH US : www.iase.ie We organise and hold employer focussed events in the BMW region counties  Keynote speaker of interest to target the audience  Work with disability services in the region to have a presence at the events  Efficient use of media to promote the event – both before and after

13. CONNECT WITH US : www.iase.ie  Liaise closely with Chambers of Commerce, BNIs and other networking bodies to target the employers in the region  Consultations with employers  Successful networking

14. First Open Door employer event, Castlebar, September 2013

15. CONNECT WITH US : www.iase.ie Employer packs Open Door brochure Supported Employment info sheet If not recruiting now – what are the options, other initiatives they can get involved in? Frequently Asked Questions info sheet Grants and Incentives available to employers Resources to explain the project to employers CONNECT WITH US : www.iase.ie

16. Outcomes of Engagement to date (Q.3 2013) Employers engaged 182 No. of Support services 39 Work Placement (7 weeks) 1 Job Shadows 8 Jobs 1 (14 hours)

17. Open Door is a Disability Activation Project co- funded by the European Union under the European Social Fund (Human Capital Investment Operation Programme 2007-2013), and the Irish Government through the Department of Social Protection and Pobal. Open Door is supported by the following agencies :

18. To find out more Irish Association of Supported Employment No. 1, Údarás na Gaeltachta Industrial Estate, Belmullet, Co. Mayo www.iase.ie opendoor@iase.ie Telephone (097) 82894 Fax (097) 82895 CONNECT WITH US:

19. www.iase.ie Thank you for your time