<< Background >>DIS-employability is a 24-month Strategic Partnership in the field of Youth Education involving several European entities working with disabled people. It aims at providing disabled people with useful employability skills through the development of critical thinking for promoting their inclusion in the labour market.Critical thinking is considered an important methodology for the development of employability skills. People with a high level of critical thinking and reasoning are likely to be innovative, bringing new ideas and creative solutions to even the most difficult business challenges.“UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” recognizes the right to work and employment as a fundamental right. The project will address and overcome systemic barriers to participation in education and the labour market that concern disabled people.According to Eurostat data, in 2010 in Europe, approximately 100 million EU citizens live with a disability. Their wellbeing is affected by various barriers, such as inaccessible physical environments and transportation, the unavailability of assistive devices and technologies, non- adapted means of communication, gaps in service delivery, and discriminatory prejudice and stigma in society.Furthermore, the Report on Disability and Work, elaborated by the International Labor Organization on 2019, showed that lower employment and education levels cause that the poverty rate for those with disabilities is 70% higher than the average, while the unemployment rate of around 4 million people in the European Union who have Intellectual and relational Disabilities is more than twice as high as for the general populationBased on this context,there is a clear need to target initiatives at these vulnerable people. Disabled people must overcome the barriers experienced as a result of the disability, and provide them with useful skills to tackle the challenges faced in the labour market because of their situationTarget groups are:Direct:Joint Staff: Youth workers who work in the field of Youth education in critical thinkingBlended Mobility of Learners: disabled people aged 18+ coming from disadvantaged urban and rural communities and Educators/Trainers providing or interested in providing support to their social inclusionIndirect: education institutions, NGOs, cultural businesses and associations, Arts centres/groups, Organizations of disabled people, Organizations/public agencies providing services fordisabled people<< Objectives >>DIS-employability aims at providing disabled people useful employability skills through the development of critical thinking for promoting their inclusion in the labor market.<< Implementation >>The activities foreseen by the project are:- short-term joint staff training event- five multiplier events (one in each partner country)<< Results >>DIS-employability will deliver the following tangible results: • Report, visible on project Web Platform, of research across partner countries identifying the needs and barriers of young people with disability (physical as well as cognitive) related to employability context as well as mapping the existing offer • Educational format based on NFE conceived as a term of reference for stakeholder institutions to put in place a specific educational offer aimed at training operators working with the youth target in implementing/supporting co-creation programmes in providing useful skills involving young people with and without disabilities.The format will be focused on activities aimed to enhance critical thinking, such as: thinking creatively, making decisions, solving problems, self-reflection, knowing how to learn, problem identification and solving, and analyzing information • International Piloting successfully implemented with the involvement of educators/trainers from partner organizations (5 educators/trainers per country/partner). • Local Programmes implemented in each partner country with the involvement of 15 learners per country. • 1 Guidebook providing orientation and methodological guidance for operators in the implementation of enhancing critical thinking skills programmes involving disabled people 18+ • 1 Web Platform in multiple languages including E-Modules for the self-development of operators in the field across partner countries and in Europe. • 1 Multiplier Event implemented per each partner country with the participation of 30 individuals among the general public, disabled young people and stakeholders Besides the tangible results, the project will achieve also some important intangible result, i.e.: • Policy-making authorities provided with meaningful insights for the improvement of sectoral policies/offer in the field of youth education and disability employment. • Operators from partner countries provided with the competences to be active in supporting the social inclusion and empowerment of disabled young people through providing employability skills through the enhancement of critical thinking • Disabled young people in partner countries sensitized to greater participation in education, social and working life • General public to develop more inclusive attitudes towards disability • Consolidate framework of cooperation