SAE4D is an organisation committed to working with you, South Africa’s employers and leaders, to empower persons with disabilities to be equal members of society and, in particular, equal contributors in the workplace.
Access to a community of members sharing a collective approach based on best practice, past experience and constructive dialogue.
Access to a database of potential candidates with disabilities and accredited service providers, such as specialised employment agencies.
The SAE4D is not restricted to membership of JSE listed or large companies. Any company or organisation that intends to employ people with disabilities can subscribe to being a member of SAE4D as long as they subscribe to the values of the organisation.
The SAE4D’s primary goal is to create an enabling workplace environment – any person with a disability who is able to perform a particular job and has the right qualifications and / or experience can be placed at a particular position within a company. Both mental/emotional and physical disabilities are covered under the definition of disability – the overriding consideration for us is the ability to do the job and not the form of the disability. Of course, the nature of the disability is important in considering the reasonable accommodation requirements that an employer will need to make in order to adapt the workplace environment. Defining the term disability is not an easy concept and we as the SAE4D adopt the definition given by the Department of Labour in the Code of Good Practice: Key Aspects on the Employment of People with Disabilities (Government Gazette 19 August 2002):
5.1 Definition of persons with disabilities under the [Employment Equity Act]
The scope of protection for people with disabilities in employment focuses on the effect of a disability on the person in relation to the working environment, and not on the diagnosis or the impairment.
People are considered as persons with disabilities who satisfy all the criteria in the definition:
(i) having a physical or mental impairment;
(ii) which is long term or recurring; and
iii) which substantially limits their prospects of entry into, or advancement in employment.