According to the last census, there are about 3 million disabled South Africans, which is about 7.5% of the country’s population.While some positive strides have been made, with Laura Wagner-Meyer, a disabled fashion designer entering Miss SA 2023, and the signing of a memorandum between India and South Africa to cooperate on developments in the disability sector, the persistent stigma surrounding disability and the continued lack of resources are just some signs that there is much more to be done.In the workplace, the disabled community is still seen as being "less capable" in particular jobs, and there are continued issues such as the lack of braille translations for important workplace information. Workplaces, too, have a long way to go in terms of accessibility and inclusivity.If you’re a business in South Africa looking to build a more inclusive workplace, we'll run through a few facts about disability in South Africa, and then explain the important role that Disability Insurance with YuLife can play. 1. Disability is commonplaceWe'll begin with something that might seem obvious, but is still worth stating: disability is commonplace in South Africa. According to a 2018 report, around 3.5% of the population experience severe functional limitations while 12.2% have a moderate disability. In fact, even more people are indirectly impacted by disability than that. Because according to the report, around 28% of households have a member with a moderate disability while 9.5% of households include someone with a severe functional limitation. And we're not just talking about the elderly. The average age of a person with a disability in South Africa is just 47. 2. Disabled rights are protected by lawModern South Africa was founded on respect for diversity, and that includes disabled people too. So there are a number of laws in place in South Africa to protect the rights of people with disabilities. Most significantly, Chapter 2 of the national constitution explicitly prohibits unfair discrimination against people on the basis of disability or health status. And the Employment Equity Act, No 55 of 1998, prevents unlawful discrimination in employment to include people with disabilities.The government doesn't just legislate against discrimination but provides active help too. These include disability grants for those who cannot work, as well as vocational training, job placement assistance and accessible transportation for those who can. The main form of financial help is the SASSA monthly grant, which is currently a maximum of R2080 and will increase to R2090 in October. 3. Living with disability is a challengeWhile South Africa leads the continent in both its recognition of disabled people's rights, and the assistance it gives to those who cannot work, the reality is that living with a disability remains a challenge. That's partly because government financial assistance is limited. And it's also because, much like everywhere else in the world, a gap remains between the laws on discrimination, and the reality that people do discriminate in practice. As a result, according to the South African Human Rights Commission, "People with disabilities continue to lack access to adequate health and basic education, and are at risk of economic isolation with no prospect of securing employment. The sector is also particularly vulnerable to the compounded effects of discrimination and abuse."4. Disability Insurance can helpIn short, South Africa's government and society as a whole seems committed to improving the lives of disabled people, but there's a long way to go. In these circumstances, Disability Insurance is playing a vital role in meeting the gap between ambition and reality. Group Disability Insurance provides employees with financial security, access to supportive services, and peace of mind for them and their families. And so any organisation that can offer this will have a competitive advantage in terms of attracting and retaining the best talent.The market for Disability Insurance is highly competitive, with different providers jostling to offer clients lower premiums, more flexible policies and better customer service. Unfortunately, the sector has grown increasingly stale in recent years, with most insurance companies stuck in their ways, resistant to change with limited innovation and ways to improve their service. Which is exactly why YuLife has launched in South Africa, in order to shake things up and offer something radically different.5. YuLife takes a radical approach Disability Insurance with YuLife comes in two forms. Firstly, there's Lump Sum Disability Cover which (as the name suggests) provides a lump sum of money to the YuLife member in the event of their permanent disability, helping to support them if they cannot earn an income on a permanent basis. Secondly, there's Income Protection, which provides a monthly payment if a YuLife member is unable to work for an agreed duration, due to illness or injury. The amount paid is based on a percentage of the employee’s salary, and an additional amount can be selected to go towards the member's retirement contributions. Of course, these schemes in themselves aren't that different from what other insurance companies provide. The big difference, though, is the extra benefits YuLife members get. These mean that Disability Insurance with YuLife isn't just about potential payouts in the far future: it's also about benefits in the present day, which focus on prevention through physical, financial and mental wellness.So how does this all work? Well, when companies sign up with YuLife, all employees get access to the YuLife app. The app gives YuLifers simple daily challenges such as walking, cycling or meditation. When they complete them, they get YuCoin, which they can convert into shopping vouchers, get discounts or donate to charity. They can also earn extra YuCoin by competing in fun challenges against each other, and track their progress against their colleagues on a group leaderboard.It's a unique combination, which typically means that engagement with the app is around 80-90% of the workforce. And that makes the app a fantastic tool for accessing YuLife's other benefits, such as a virtual GP service through Kena Health, counselling and advice through Lyra Wellbeing, access to multiple well-being apps like Meditopia, Fiit and more. It's also a great platform for any specific programmes or campaigns that the company themselves needs to communicate to employees.It all adds up to a radical approach to Disability Insurance that is shaking up the South African market and providing employers with an exciting new alternative that can change and enhance lives.