What Paraquad does

Paraquad, Inc. is a private, nonprofit Center for Independent Living (CIL) founded in 1970 by Max Starkloff and headquartered at 5240 Oakland Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. The organization provides five federally mandated core services — advocacy, independent living skills, information and referral, peer support, and transition services — to more than 1,200 individuals and families with disabilities across the St. Louis region each year, with 75%+ of participants living on incomes under $20,000. Its operational footprint includes a second site on Berthold Avenue that houses the Stephen A. Orthwein Center, a state-of-the-art adaptive fitness facility equipped with Hocoma robotic devices (ArmeoPower, Lokomat, Erigo, C-Mill), an EksoNR exoskeleton, an AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill, and a Cionic Neural Sleeve, plus co-located clinical services from Washington University's Program in Occupational Therapy and Logan University's chiropractic health center.

The organization's revenue model blends federal CIL appropriations, Missouri Medicaid reimbursement through its Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program (which pays personal care attendants $15.50/hour), state and county developmental disability funding (Productive Living Board, St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources, Missouri Foundation for Health), membership and training fees at the Orthwein Center ($55/month, $640/year, tiered 1:1 training packages up to 12 sessions at $960), charitable donations including an annual Bulls, Broncs, and Budweiser rodeo benefit that raised over $350,000 in its 2025 inaugural year, and corporate ADA compliance training through the AccessibleSTL program. Paraquad has sub-brands including SMART (a regional transportation advocacy coalition convened in January 2023) and AccessibleSTL, and holds a 1979 distinction as one of the first federally funded CILs in the United States. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on referrals from healthcare providers, schools, and social service agencies, peer support networks, public policy advocacy, and direct outreach rather than commercial sales channels.

Name

Paraquad

Legal name

Paraquad, Inc.

Website

https://paraquad.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Paraquad is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living founded in 1970 in St. Louis, Missouri, delivering advocacy, independent living skills, personal care, adaptive fitness, employment training, and youth services to more than 1,200 people with disabilities annually through federal, Medicaid, state, and philanthropic funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Independent living
• Personal care assistance
• Adaptive fitness
• Disability advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medicaid Reimbursement (Consumer Directed Services): Paraquad's Consumer Directed Services is a Medicaid-based program that provides personal care attendant services. The program is funded by MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid), and attendant services are billed in accordance with care plans authorized by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. CDS caregivers are paid $15.50/hour.
2. Government Grants and Federal Funding: As a federally funded Center for Independent Living (CIL) since 1979, Paraquad receives federal funding for core services including advocacy, independent living skills, information and referral, peer support, and transition services.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Paraquad relies on charitable donations from supporters to fund core services. The organization hosts annual fundraising events including the Bulls, Broncs, and Budweiser rodeo benefit. More than 75% of participants live on incomes under $20,000, making donations critical for operations.
4. Membership Fees (Orthwein Center): The Stephen A. Orthwein Center generates revenue through membership fees including monthly ($55/month) and annual memberships ($640/year), plus $80 annual assessment. Additional revenue comes from 1:1 training sessions, drop-in fees, and partnership agreements.
5. State and Local Government Funding: Funding from Productive Living Board for St. Louis County Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources, and Missouri Foundation for Health supports various programs including culinary training, continuing education, and home modifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Paraquad is a Center for Independent Living that delivers a portfolio of disability services including Consumer Directed Services (Medicaid-funded personal care attendants), adaptive fitness at the Stephen A. Orthwein Center, employment and culinary training, assistive technology, home modifications, peer mentoring, youth programs, and public policy advocacy. Programs are delivered directly to participants across the St. Louis region and generate revenue through Medicaid reimbursement, federal/state/local grants, donations, memberships, and program fees.

Product overview

Paraquad is a Center for Independent Living (CIL) providing a comprehensive portfolio of disability services organized into five core service areas: advocacy, independent living skills, information and referral, peer support, and transition services. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including Consumer Directed Services (Medicaid-funded personal care attendant program), Employment Services (culinary training, continuing education, SWEP, WIPA), Independent Living Services (assistive technology, home modifications, ILAP, peer mentoring, People First, transition services), the Stephen A. Orthwein Center (adaptive fitness facility), and Youth and Family Services (summer programs, youth transition, youth group, special education advocacy). Public Policy & Advocacy programming includes AccessibleSTL training and S.M.A.R.T. transportation coalition. All programs are designed to promote independence and remove barriers for people with disabilities in the St. Louis region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMART (St. Louis Metropolitan Alliance for Reliable Transit): A disability transportation advocacy coalition convened and led by Paraquad that advocates for safe, accessible, and affordable public transportation.
• AccessibleSTL
• Independent at Home (Consumer Directed Services)

Products and services

• Consumer Directed Services (CDS) A Medicaid-based program where adults with disabilities in Missouri hire, schedule, and manage their own personal care attendants to assist with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and transportation. Funded by MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) with attendant services billed in accordance with care plans authorized by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. CDS caregivers are paid $15.50 per hour as of July 20, 2025.
• Bloom Culinary Training Program A 15-week culinary training program delivered in partnership with the Salvation Army that teaches cooking skills to adults with disabilities, preparing graduates for careers in hospitality while providing job placement support. Students prepare 175 meals per day, 3 days per week, totaling 18,900 meals annually for Salvation Army drug treatment program participants and veterans.
• Continuing Education Classes Skill-building classes for adults with developmental disabilities covering transportation, driver's education, money management, healthy relationships, and sexuality education. Funded through county developmental disability resources and the Productive Living Board.
• Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) Employment transition program helping youth with disabilities identify careers, create resumes, and develop job application and interview skills as part of Paraquad's employment services portfolio.
• Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) A Social Security cooperative program providing certified counseling to disability beneficiaries on how employment affects benefits, work incentives, and healthcare coverage options.
• Assistive Technology Services Program providing assistive devices, equipment reuse loans, and technology demonstrations to help people with disabilities maintain independence at work, school, and in the community. Operates the Assistive Technology Demonstration Center in partnership with Missouri Assistive Technology and the Missouri Assistive Technology Council.
• Home Modifications Program Safety assessments and minor home modifications — including grab bar installation, doorway widening, and ramp construction — provided by licensed Occupational Therapists to enable people with disabilities and older adults to live safely and independently at home. Funded with support from Missouri Foundation for Health and coordinated through the St. Louis Home Repair Network.
• Independent Living Adult Program (ILAP) Personalized independent living skills training program helping participants identify goals and access resources for housing, transportation, community participation, finances, personal care, and daily living skills.
• Peer Mentoring Program & Support Services Program matching participants with peer mentors who have similar disabilities, along with support groups for spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, amputees, and women with disabilities.
• People First of St. Louis A self-advocacy organization led by people with developmental disabilities that teaches advocacy skills and promotes equity and inclusion for people with disabilities.
• Transition Services Services assisting nursing home residents with transitioning back into the community, addressing housing, finances, personal care, and independent living skills. The transition process takes 6 months to 2 years.
• Information and Referral Services Information and referral services connecting people with disabilities, families, and professionals to community resources and Paraquad programs. A federally required core service of Centers for Independent Living.
• Stephen A. Orthwein Center A state-of-the-art adaptive fitness center offering specialized exercise equipment (including Hocoma Lokomat, ArmeoPower, Erigo, C-Mill, EksoNR exoskeleton, AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill, and Cionic Neural Sleeve), 1:1 training, group classes, and memberships for people with disabilities and older adults. Operating hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9am-5pm, Tue/Thu 8am-6pm. Monthly membership $55/month plus $80 annual assessment; annual membership $640/year; drop-in rate $10/day.
• Youth Transition Services Transition programs for youth ages 14-24 with disabilities covering employment options, continued education, housing, transportation, and independent living planning.
• Youth Summer Services Summer programs for youth ages 11-21 including High School Summer Blast, Middle School Summer Blast, Work Readiness Camp, and Healthy Relationships courses.
• Youth Group for Young Adults with Disabilities Monthly meetings for youth ages 12-21 with disabilities providing education on disability rights, independent living skills, self-advocacy, and community engagement activities.
• Special Education Advocacy Advocacy services helping parents and students understand IEPs, navigate special education rights, and secure appropriate educational accommodations.
• AccessibleSTL Accessibility training and technical assistance program providing ADA compliance training, site surveys, policy review, and website accessibility review for St. Louis organizations. AccessibleSTL is a registered trademark of Paraquad Inc.
• S.M.A.R.T. (St. Louis Metropolitan Alliance for Reliable Transit) A disability transportation advocacy coalition convened by Paraquad in January 2023 that advocates for accessible, affordable public transit and works to restore Metro Transit services in the St. Louis region. The coalition was awarded a $10,000 APTA Local Coalition Grant.
• Disability Voting Rights & Responsibilities Resources and information about voting rights for people with disabilities, including accessible voting options and Missouri voter ID requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38,841 paratransit trips delivered in April 2025 with zero ADA capacity denials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bloom Culinary Training Program operates in partnership with the Salvation Army, where students prepare 175 meals/day for Salvation Army's Downtown Drug Treatment Center and veterans programs. The Salvation Army provides kitchen facilities and meal distribution infrastructure while Paraquad provides culinary instruction and employment support for adults with disabilities.
• Missouri Department of Health & Senior ServicescoreOthersDHSS assesses CDS program eligibility and creates care plans for participants. The department determines level of care needs and authorizes services that Paraquad delivers through its Consumer Directed Services program.
• Washington University Program in Occupational TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides clinical services and research at the Orthwein Center. Services include wheelchair seating and mobility assessments, manual wheelchair propulsion analysis, pressure mapping, and adaptive baby care provisions. Also operates Collaborative Community Clinic providing free OT services for uninsured/under-insured individuals with SCI.
• Logan University Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-service chiropractic health center located within the Stephen A. Orthwein Center. Provides $10 flat fee services including chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, pediatric chiropractic, and nutritional counseling. Teaching clinic for Logan University Doctor of Chiropractic students.
• SMART Coalition (St. Louis Metropolitan Alliance for Reliable Transit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability transportation advocacy coalition convened and led by Paraquad since January 2023. Advocates for accessible public transit, MetroLink accessibility, and paratransit services. Coalition helped achieve zero ADA capacity denials and secured $10,000 APTA grant.
• AmerenminorOthersCorporate client receiving ADA compliance training and accessibility consulting through Paraquad's AccessibleSTL program.
• SSM HealthminorOthersHealthcare system client receiving accessibility training and technical assistance through Paraquad's AccessibleSTL program.
• Enterprise HoldingsminorOthersCorporate client receiving ADA compliance training through Paraquad's AccessibleSTL program.
• St. Louis Home Repair NetworkminorOthersParaquad's Home Modifications Program is a member of the St. Louis Home Repair Network, coordinating home safety and modification services.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Starkloff Disability Institute: St. Louis-based nonprofit advancing disability inclusion and employment, founded in tribute to Max Starkloff, the same founder of Paraquad. Highly comparable mission (disability independence and community participation) and overlapping St. Louis funder network.
• Services for Independent Living (SIL): Mid-Missouri Center for Independent Living delivering the same five core services Paraquad provides (advocacy, IL skills, I&R, peer support, transition) in Columbia, MO — closest program-for-program peer within Missouri.
• AlphaPoint Center for Independent Living: St. Joseph, MO Center for Independent Living providing the federally mandated core services. Comparable as a peer CIL in Missouri's regional network, though smaller and western-Missouri-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National federation of disability and behavioral health service providers offering employment, independent living, adult day and assistive technology programs directly comparable to Paraquad's portfolio, but at much larger national scale across 70+ affiliates.
• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, employment supports and community living programs — closely mirrors Paraquad's People First, employment, and transition services but at national scale.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National disability services network providing housing, assistive technology, employment, and advocacy for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, overlapping with multiple Paraquad service lines through its affiliates.
• Goodwill Industries International: National network of 150+ local Goodwills delivering employment training, vocational rehabilitation, and disability services to people with barriers to work — a direct analogue of Paraquad's employment services, SWEP, WIPA, and Bloom Culinary Training Program.

Regional players

• The Whole Person: Kansas City-based Center for Independent Living providing independent living skills, advocacy, employment and accessibility services to people with disabilities — near-equivalent of Paraquad's core CIL services but serving the Kansas City region rather than St. Louis.

Emerging players

• AbilityKC: Kansas City-based Center for Independent Living offering independent living, employment, pediatric and adult therapy including adaptive fitness — highly comparable to Paraquad plus Orthwein Center, though smaller and Kansas City-focused.

Others

• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National membership and advocacy organization representing CILs like Paraquad at the federal level; comparable as an ecosystem participant and policy counterpart rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/paraquad
• Instagraminstagram.com/paraquad
• Xx.com/paraquad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paraquad