What Kehitysvammaliitto does

Kehitysvammaliitto ry is a Finnish national non-profit association founded in 1952, registered under Finnish law as a rekisteröity yhdistys, headquartered in Espoo. It is the recognized national expert body for intellectual disabilities, speech disabilities, autism spectrum, and FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) in Finland, serving approximately 50,000 people with intellectual disabilities, 120,000 with speech disabilities, 55,000–65,000 on the autism spectrum, and up to 800,000 people who require Easy Language (selkokieli). The organization operates as a federation of specialized units: Tikoteekki (ICT and Communication Center providing AAC tools and evidence-based practice models such as OIVA, Rohkaisin, ITSE, ILONA, and Voimauttava vuorovaikutus), Selkokeskus (the national Easy Language expertise and certification center), Papunet (a free web-based communication-support portal attracting 1.2M visits/year with a daily image tool used by ~1,000 people), Verneri.net (developmental-disability information portal), Opike (learning-materials center and e-commerce store), and publications including Selkosanomat and Ketju-lehti. Underlying technology assets include the Papuri e-book authoring system, Bliss symbol libraries, video-based OIVA coaching, the Sointu/Crdl tactile instrument, and an integration with Global Symbols enabling access to 30+ AAC symbol libraries.

The organization's business model is hybrid: primarily funded by STEA (Sosiaali- ja terveysjärjestöjen avustuskeskus) operating and project grants from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, supplemented by member-organization fees, public donations (1–50 EUR tiers via website and bank transfer), and commercial revenue generated through its wholly-owned subsidiary Saavuta Asiantuntijapalvelut Oy (training, consulting, Easy Language adaptation services delivered remotely across Finland) and Opike e-commerce. A quoted-fee pricing model governs training and consulting; unit pricing governs materials sales; donations operate on three designated causes. Distribution is direct-to-end-user via web portals and email, plus direct relationships with all 21 Finnish welfare counties, member organizations (Autismiliitto, Tukiliitto, FDUV), and the public-sector. Advocacy and policy influence extend to government and parliament, with current campaigns including a public appeal against proposed 50% STEA funding cuts and joint demands for a national disability ombudsman.

Name

Kehitysvammaliitto

Legal name

Kehitysvammaliitto ry

Website

https://kehitysvammaliitto.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kehitysvammaliitto ry is a Finnish national non-profit association founded in 1952 serving people with intellectual, speech, and developmental disabilities, autism, and FASD, operating specialized units for AAC communication support (Papunet), Easy Language expertise (Selkokeskus), learning materials (Opike), and training (Tikoteekki) across Finland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Assistive communication tools
• Accessible learning materials
• Plain language certification
• Disability research

Headquarters

HQ city

Espoo

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. STEA valtionavustukset (government grants): Kehitysvammaliitto is primarily funded by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM) through STEA (Sosiaali- ja terveysjärjestöjen avustuskeskus), which provides both general operating grants and targeted project grants. As of 2026, these grants face significant proposed cuts of 190 million EUR across the sector (approximately 50% reduction from 2024 levels).
2. Jäsenmaksut (membership fees): Kehitysvammaliitto ry operates as an association with member organizations contributing annual fees.
3. Lahjoitukset (donations): The organization actively solicits public donations with designated funds for Easy Language promotion, employment of people with disabilities, and FASD peer group activities. Bank transfer to FI65 8000 1600 3127 72.
4. Koulutusmaksut (training fees): Saavuta Asiantuntijapalvelut Oy (100% owned subsidiary) generates revenue from training courses, consulting, and Easy Language adaptation services. Profits are directed to Kehitysvammaliitto. Courses are primarily delivered remotely across Finland.
5. Opike verkkokauppa (Opike e-commerce): Opike learning materials center operates an e-commerce store (opike.fi) selling accessible learning materials for rehabilitation, education, and special needs teaching. Materials are based on domestic development work done in collaboration with professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Kehitysvammaliitto is a Finnish national non-profit association (founded 1952) that delivers disability advocacy, accessible communication tools, plain-language (selkokieli) expertise, accessible learning materials, and professional training for people with intellectual and speech disabilities. It operates specialized web platforms (Papunet, Verneri.net, Selkokeskus.fi), an e-commerce materials store (Opike.fi), professional training services through subsidiary Saavuta Asiantuntijapalvelut Oy, and conducts policy advocacy and disability research funded primarily by Finnish state grants (STEA).

Product overview

Kehitysvammaliitto (Finnish Association on Intellectual Disabilities) is a national disability organization founded in 1951, operating as a comprehensive service ecosystem rather than a single product company. The organization provides multiple interconnected web services: Verneri.net for developmental disability information, Papunet for speech-disabled communication support (serving 1.2M+ visitors annually with AAC materials), Selkokeskus for easy-to-read Finnish expertise and certification, Opike for inclusive learning materials via web store, and Tikoteekki as an ICT and communication center offering assistive technology products (Communication Folders, SähköSANOMA, Bliss charts) and operational models (OIVA, Rohkaisin, ILONA, Laulutin, ITSE, Voimauttava vuorovaikutus). Publications include Tikonen web magazine, Ketju-lehti magazine, and Selkosanomat easy-read news. Saavuta Asiantuntijapalvelut Oy is a wholly-owned subsidiary providing training and accessibility services. The organization is headquartered in Espoo, Finland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saavuta Asiantuntijapalvelut Oy: Wholly-owned subsidiary providing training, consulting, clear language adaptations, and accessibility services. Profits are directed to Kehitysvammaliitto's operations.
• Verneri.net
• Papunet
• Selkokeskus
• Opike
• Tikoteekki
• Selkosanomat
• Ketju-lehti

Products and services

• Papunet
• Verneri.net

Quantifiable outcome

• Papunet received over 1.2 million visits in 2025, with the image tool used by ~1,000 people daily to create 587,000 new materials
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Saavuta Asiantuntijapalvelut OycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaavuta Asiantuntijapalvelut Oy is a 100% owned subsidiary of Kehitysvammaliitto. It provides training, consulting, Easy Language adaptation, and accessibility services. All profits from Saavuta are directed to Kehitysvammaliitto's mission of strengthening equality and inclusion for people with disabilities. This is a core operational subsidiary integral to the organization's funding model.
• FDUVmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDUV is the Swedish-speaking disability organization in Finland and a key partner. Joint activities include: translation of Rohkaisin method materials into Swedish, coordination on national disability advocacy (joint demands for disability ombudsman), and collaboration on Swedish-language service provision including FDUV's Lärum learning materials center.
• Rinnekodit (Helsinki Deaconess Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRinnekodit participated in the 2021–2023 development project that created the Rohkaisin method, contributing practical expertise from residential services for people with severe disabilities. Rinnekodit staff continue to use Rohkaisin as part of quality assurance in disability services.
• Vaalijala kuntoutus- ja tukipalvelut (South Savo Welfare Area)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVaalijala participated in the Rohkaisin development project (2021–2023), contributing expertise from competence and support services in South Savo welfare area.
• JHL (Jyty ja JHL, Public and Welfare Sector Union)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerKehitysvammaliitto and JHL jointly conduct the 'Värikäs vammaistyö' (Colorful Disability Work) campaign to attract young people to disability sector careers, address workforce shortages, and improve sector visibility. Activities include surveys, social media videos, school outreach, and TET placement coordination.
• Vantaan seurakuntayhtymä (Vantaa Parish Union)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVantaa Parish Union collaborated with Kehitysvammaliitto and STEP-koulutus on the 'Töihin seurakuntaan!' (To Work in the Parish!) project, promoting employment of people with disabilities in parish settings.
• STEP-koulutusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEP-koulutus collaborated on the 'Töihin seurakuntaan!' project alongside Vantaa Parish Union and Kehitysvammaliitto to create employment pathways for people with disabilities in church workplaces.
• Eloisa, Siunsote, Mehiläinen, Tukena, Rinnekodit (disability service providers)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese five disability service organizations participated in the ITSE model co-development process with Tikoteekki, providing frontline expertise on implementing new practices (such as Rohkaisin, OIVA, Voimauttava vuorovaikutus) in their organizations. They represent the primary end-user organizations for Tikoteekki's methodology development.
• Autismiliitto, Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto, FDUVmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour major Finnish disability organizations (Kehitysvammaliitto, Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto, FDUV, Autismiliitto) jointly develop government election program goals, advocate for disability rights including a national disability ombudsman, and coordinate on systemic policy reforms affecting their shared constituencies.
• NNDR (Nordic Network on Disability Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNNDR brings disability researchers from around the world to Helsinki for its research conference, hosted/organized by Kehitysvammaliitto, connecting Finnish disability research with international academic networks.
• Centria University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentria University of Applied Sciences first introduced the Crdl interactive instrument to Finland through its RoboSote project, testing the device in various environments. Kehitysvammaliitto/Tikoteekki subsequently adopted and branded it as 'Sointu' for Finnish use.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto: Finnish support association for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Closest Finnish peer organization with overlapping member base, similar STEA-funded structure, and joint national advocacy initiatives with Kehitysvammaliitto.
• FDUV (Förbundet De Utvecklingsstördas Väl): Swedish-speaking Finnish disability federation providing parallel services to Swedish-speaking Finns with intellectual disabilities. Co-development partner on Rohkaisin method translation and joint advocacy on disability rights in Finland.
• Autismiliitto: Finnish national autism society providing advocacy, services, and support for people on the autism spectrum and their families. Direct peer in the Finnish disability NGO ecosystem, jointly advocating for disability ombudsman and coordinating research/policy with Kehitysvammaliitto.
• Lärum (FDUV): FDUV's learning materials center producing accessible Swedish-language educational materials — direct parallel to Opike. Highly comparable as a sibling-unit learning materials center within a partner disability NGO.

Broad incumbents

• Inclusion Europe: European-level umbrella organization advocating for people with intellectual disabilities and their families across 40+ European countries. Comparable in advocacy, Easy Language expertise, and policy influence at a broader geographic scope; Kehitysvammaliitto engages via NNDR and similar networks.
• National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS): U.S. national advocacy organization for people with Down syndrome and their families, providing programs, policy advocacy, and community resources. Comparable as a national disability-specific NGO with research, advocacy, and member services similar to Kehitysvammaliitto.
• Special Olympics International: Global movement providing sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a large disability advocacy and program-delivery organization, though focused on athletics rather than communication and accessibility services.

Emerging players

• Tobii Dynavox: Global leader in AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) assistive technology and eye-tracking devices for people with communication disabilities. Comparable in serving the AAC user population that Papunet supports, but as a commercial hardware/software vendor rather than content/services provider.

Regional players

• Communication Matters (UK): UK charity supporting people who use AAC and the professionals who work with them. Comparable in AAC expertise and professional training focus, but operates in the UK regulatory context rather than Finnish welfare county system.

Others

• ISAAC (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication): International professional association advancing AAC research, practice, and policy. Comparable as a coordinating body for AAC expertise, but functions as a professional society rather than direct service provider like Kehitysvammaliitto.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLii7RXspXDO6DlAWqv7VWy3ww4gXozYoJ
• Facebookfacebook.com/kehitysvammaliitto
• Instagraminstagram.com/opike_kvl
• Xx.com/kvliitto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kehitysvammaliitto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kehitysvammaliitto