Rehabilitation International

What Rehabilitation International does

Rehabilitation International (also known as RI Global) is a 501(c)(3) international non-governmental organization founded in 1922 as the International Society for Crippled Children. Headquartered at the United Nations Plaza in New York, it is the world's oldest established international disability rights organization, holding special consultative status with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and maintaining official relations with UN DESA, UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, ILO, and UNFPA. Its membership network of disability-focused organizations spans more than 100 countries and regions.

The organization operates through seven thematic Working Commissions (Work & Employment, Education, Health & Function, Tech & Accessibility, Policy & Service, Social Initiatives, Physical Activity) and six project areas (Accessibility, Disaster Management, Habilitation & Rehabilitation, Supporting Education, CRPD Empowerment, Women & Disability). Its core programs include the quadrennial RI World Congress (drawing 1,000+ delegates from 60+ countries), the RI Award for Outstanding Achievements, the RI Youth Forum, the Global Disability Development Fund and Africa Fund (grant vehicles launched in 2018), and the recently launched RI Academy (February 2026). RI designed the International Symbol of Access in 1969, which is now implemented universally.

The business model is non-commercial: RI is funded primarily through donations, charitable contributions, membership fees, and the dedicated RI Foundation. The RI Foundation supports innovative programs empowering persons with disabilities worldwide. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization reports 1-10 staff. Go-to-market is event-driven — the World Congress, UN conference side events, webinars, regional gatherings, the RI Academy, and youth forums — supplemented by digital channels including a website, monthly newsletters, and social media on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Strategic partners include UN agencies, the International Social Security Association (ISSA, since 2025), the China Disabled People's Federation, Shaw Trust, RI Norway, RI Finland, the Nippon Foundation, the International Union of Architects, and various national disability organizations.

Name

Rehabilitation International

Legal name

Rehabilitation International Inc.

Website

https://riglobal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rehabilitation International (RI Global) is a 501(c)(3) international NGO founded in 1922 that advocates for disability rights and inclusion through a member network spanning over 100 countries and official UN consultative status, delivering programs via World Congresses, awards, grants, and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Rights Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Injury Prevention, Disability & Rehabilitation Programs (BPADAIAM), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Country Development Assistance Programs (Bilateral ODA) (BPADABAA)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Disability inclusion programs
• International NGO network
• Rehabilitation policy
• Accessibility standards

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: RI is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that operates primarily through donations, charitable contributions, and membership fees to fund its global disability inclusion programs and initiatives.
2. RI Foundation: The RI Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that RI has the resources to carry out innovative and results-oriented programs to empower persons with disabilities in all parts of the world.
3. Global Disability Development Fund (GDDF) and Africa Fund (AF): Grant programs established in 2018 to encourage and assist non-profit organizations worldwide to promote disability-inclusion by granting financial assistance. Up to June 2021, the grant funded 23 projects globally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rehabilitation International (RI Global) is a membership-based international NGO that advocates for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Its core offerings include the quadrennial World Congress, recognition awards, member services across 100+ countries, UN-level advocacy on CRPD implementation, grant-making through the GDDF and Africa Fund, and educational programs including the RI Academy.

Product overview

Rehabilitation International (RI Global) is a global non-profit organization founded in 1922, dedicated to advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. The organization operates through a multi-faceted approach comprising advocacy programs, working commissions, and member services. Its core offerings include the biennial RI World Congress (a major international forum on disability empowerment), the RI Award for Outstanding Achievements (recognizing contributions in humanitarianism, rehabilitation, and innovation), the RI Youth Forum, and regular newsletters. RI also manages the Global Disability Development Fund (GDDF) and Africa Fund (AF) for grant-based disability inclusion projects. The organization's thematic work is organized through seven Working Commissions covering Work & Employment, Education, Health & Function, Tech & Accessibility, Policy & Service, Social Initiatives, and Physical Activity. Additionally, RI developed the International Symbol of Access in 1969, which remains a globally recognized accessibility marker.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RI World Congress Quadrennial major international congress held every few years, bringing together disability advocates, experts, policymakers, and member organizations to discuss disability inclusion and rights. It is one of the most significant global disability events, hosting over 1,000 delegates from 60+ countries.
• RI Academy Educational initiative launched in February 2026 providing training and capacity building for rehabilitation professionals, disability advocates, and stakeholders working in the area of rehabilitation, inclusion, and human rights.
• RI Award for Outstanding Achievements International award program recognizing individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to disability rights, rehabilitation, and inclusion. Categories include Humanitarianism, Rehabilitation, and Innovation.
• RI Youth Forum Engagement platform for young people with disabilities (ages 18-30) to participate in RI activities, share experiences, and contribute to disability advocacy efforts globally.
• RI Membership Program Foundational membership offering enabling disability-focused organizations, governments, and stakeholders to join the RI global network, access advocacy platforms, participate in working commissions, and engage with UN-level disability policy work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 countries covered by member organizations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• International Social Security Association (ISSA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025New global partnership announced at the ISSA Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Prof. Gutenbrunner signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Rehabilitation International and ISSA to promote social security inclusion for persons with disabilities.
• United NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRI maintains official relations with the United Nations and has consultative status with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. This enables RI to carry out advocacy efforts on national, regional, and international basis.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partnership for development work and disability-inclusive development initiatives globally.
• World Health OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial relations for health and rehabilitation advocacy, particularly important for rehabilitation access worldwide.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focusing on children with disabilities and inclusive education initiatives.
• International Labor OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on work and employment for persons with disabilities, including return-to-work policies.
• United Nations Population FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on sexual and reproductive health rights for women and young persons with disabilities.
• Shaw Trust (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK partner organization that hosted the 23rd World Congress in Edinburgh in 2016, bringing together over 1,000 delegates from 60+ countries.
• China Disabled People's FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey member organization that hosted the RI Centennial Celebrations in Beijing, China in May 2023, with President Zhang Haidi affiliated with this organization.
• United Nations ESCAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the Asia-Pacific Meeting on Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan in 2014, resulting in the Sendai Statement.
• The Nippon FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the Asia-Pacific Meeting on Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and funded accessibility and global governance studies.
• Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRI member in collaboration with Development Research Institute and Women with Disabilities India Network to organize e-courses on gender-based violence against women with disabilities.
• International Union of Architects (UIA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly invited submissions for the twenty-first century International Accessibility Symbol Design Competition launched January 2022.
• UNFPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized plenary session on Guidelines for Providing Rights-Based and Gender Responsive Services to Address Gender-Based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights for women and young persons with disabilities.
• RI NorwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with RI Norway on the project Universal Design in Kindergarten and School, Guidelines and Universal Tools, funded by grants.
• RI FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRI Finland Committee (RIFI) partnered on European return-to-work and rehabilitation practices workshop in Helsinki and Universal Design projects.
• Fürst Donnersmarck FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Prize 2021 awarded through the foundation focusing on skull-brain injury cases and health services research.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CBM (Christoffel-Blindenmission): International disability-focused NGO working on inclusion, rehabilitation, and prevention of blindness/disability. Comparable as a similarly structured membership/operational NGO serving persons with disabilities worldwide.
• Disabled Peoples' International: Cross-disability global network advocating for human rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Directly comparable membership-based international disability rights organization.
• International Disability Alliance: Coalition of global disability and development organizations. Comparable UN-advocacy-focused network driving CRPD implementation, similar mission and constituency to RI.
• Inclusion International: Global federation advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a network of disability-focused member organizations with UN advocacy and policy influence.
• Sightsavers: International NGO working on disability inclusion, particularly avoidable blindness and visual impairment. Comparable as a large disability-focused international NGO with grant-funded programs in low-income countries.
• Leonard Cheshire Disability: International charity supporting persons with disabilities through education, employment, and livelihood programs. Comparable in mission and member-country operational model.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF: UN agency addressing children's rights globally, with significant programming for children with disabilities. Comparable as a UN-system partner organization, but vastly larger in scope and budget.
• Special Olympics International: Large international organization serving persons with intellectual disabilities through sports. Comparable in global scale and disability mission, but specialized in athletic programming rather than broad rights advocacy.

Emerging players

• World Federation of the Deaf: Global NGO representing deaf communities worldwide. Comparable as an international disability advocacy organization with UN consultative status, but focused on a single disability constituency.
• World Blind Union: Global organization representing blind and partially sighted persons. Comparable advocacy and UN engagement model, but focused on visual impairment constituency specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ri_global
• Facebookfacebook.com/riglobal
• Instagraminstagram.com/ri_global
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rehabilitation-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Rehabilitation International