BZSL

What BZSL does

BZSL e.V. (Berliner Zentrum für Selbstbestimmtes Leben behinderter Menschen e.V.) is a Berlin-based, registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1990 that provides free peer-to-peer counseling for people with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses and their relatives. The organization operates on the "Betroffene beraten Betroffene" principle — advisors with disabilities counsel people with disabilities — and runs five distinct advisory projects: EUTB (general disability counseling), BNS (refugees with disabilities, trauma, and elderly), AufAchse (mobile outreach to refugee accommodations in three Berlin districts), AMIF AM21 (unaccompanied minors and young adult refugees with disabilities), and ISP "Selbst-bestimmt für Vielfalt und Inklusion" (group meetings, events, and publications on sustainability and crisis resilience). It also offers peer counseling and workshops for physiotherapy students and practitioners on self-determination. Services are delivered in-person at the Berlin headquarters (Gustav-Adolf-Str. 130) and a second location at Stadtteilzentrum Prenzlauer Berg, via mobile outreach to refugee shelters, by phone, email, and online video, with multilingual support including German, English, Arabic, French, Russian, Ukrainian, and others.

The underlying technology stack is a standard non-profit web platform: WordPress CMS, WooCommerce webshop, STRATO hosting, Rapidmail email marketing, Complianz cookie consent, Google reCAPTCHA, and YouTube video embedding. There is no proprietary software product. The portfolio is supplemented by published PDF resources (Krisenbewältigungskompass 2023 and 2024, Nachhaltigkeitskompass beginner and advanced) and a physiotherapy workshop line.

The business model is project-based public funding combined with ancillary non-commercial revenue. Core funding flows from the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) for EUTB, the Berlin Senate for Integration and Social Affairs (Senatsverwaltung) for AufAchse and BNS, the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) for AM21, and Aktion Mensch. Secondary revenue streams include membership fees, donations via bank transfer and PayPal, and paid seminars/workshops for professionals. All direct advisory services to beneficiaries are free of charge. The organization is volunteer-led with a small paid staff coordinating project delivery, and is affiliated with ISL e.V. (national umbrella of Centers for Independent Living), Der Paritätische Berlin, and ENIL (European Network on Independent Living).

Name

BZSL

Legal name

Berliner Zentrum für Selbstbestimmtes Leben behinderter Menschen e.V.

Website

https://bzsl.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BZSL e.V. is a Berlin-based non-profit founded in 1990 that provides free peer counseling (advisors with disabilities counseling others with disabilities) across five projects covering general disability, refugees with disabilities, mobile outreach, unaccompanied minors, and community education on sustainability and resilience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Peer Counseling and Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

MHPSS & Trauma-Informed Support for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAJ)

Keywords

• Disability peer counseling
• Independent living services
• Refugee disability support
• Self-determined living
• Social welfare advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Project/Program Funding: BZSL e.V. operates multiple advisory projects funded by government bodies and foundations. Funding sources include: Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), Berlin Senate for Integration, Work and Social Affairs (Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und Antidiskriminierung), Integration Fund (Integrationsfonds), Aktion Mensch, and AMIF (Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund). Projects such as EUTB are funded under federal programs; AufAchse and BNS receive Senate-level integration funding; AMIF receives EU co-financing.
2. Membership Fees: The association charges membership fees as described in the 'Mitgliedschaft & Beiträge' section. Members pay dues to support the organization and receive benefits as members of the association.
3. Donations: BZSL e.V. accepts donations via bank transfer (Berliner Sparkasse) and PayPal. A donation receipt (Spendenquittung) is provided for donations above €300, or on request for smaller amounts.
4. Seminars and Workshops: The association offers seminars, hospitation opportunities, and workshops on selected topics related to disability, self-determination, and physiotherapy for professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BZSL e.V. delivers free, peer-based counseling services ('Betroffene beraten Betroffene') for people with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses in Berlin, along with specialized advisory for refugees with disabilities, unaccompanied minor refugees, and physiotherapy professionals. The organization operates five funded advisory projects (EUTB, BNS, AufAchse, AMIF AM21, and ISP), delivered in-person, by phone, email, mobile outreach, and online. Supporting offerings include published PDF compasses on crisis resilience and sustainability, plus fee-based seminars and workshops.

Product overview

BZSL e.V. is a volunteer-run self-help organization offering a portfolio of peer-based counseling services for people with disabilities and refugees with disabilities in Berlin. The core offerings include EUTB® (Ergänzende unabhängige Teilhabeberatung) for general disability counseling, BNS for refugee counseling, AufAchse mobile counseling, and AMIF AM21 for unaccompanied minors. Supporting services include the ISP project (Selbst-bestimmt für Vielfalt und Inklusion) providing group meetings, public events, and publications including the Nachhaltigkeitskompass (sustainability guides) and Krisenbewältigungskompass (crisis management guides) for 2023 and 2024. The organization also offers Selbstbestimmte Physiotherapie workshops and operates the Peer Counseling service based on the peer-to-peer principle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EUTB \u2013 Erg\u00e4nzende unabh\u00e4ngige Teilhabeberatung (Supplementary Independent Participation Counseling) Free, independent, peer-based counseling service for people with all types of disabilities and/or chronic illnesses in Berlin, complementing public counseling services. Covers assistance services, social rights, disability passes, assistive devices, care grades, employment re-entry, education, housing, leisure, mobility, partnership/sexuality, communication, and self-determination.
• BNS \u2013 Beratung und Unterst\u00fctzung f\u00fcr besonders schutzbed\u00fcrftige Gefl\u00fcchtete (Counseling and Support for Particularly Vulnerable Refugees) Free specialized counseling for refugees with disabilities, chronic illnesses, trauma, and elderly refugees in Berlin, including Ukrainian war refugees. Delivered by phone, email, and in-person with multilingual support covering German, English, Arabic, and Serbo-Croatian.
• AufAchse \u2013 Mobile Beratung (Mobile Counseling) Free mobile outreach counseling delivered on-site at refugee accommodations in the Berlin districts of Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Pankow, and Treptow-K\u00f6penick. Supports refugees with disabilities in applying for disability passes, care services, social benefits (SGB XII), assistive devices, and empowerment on a peer basis.
• AMIF AM21 \u2013 Counseling for Particularly Vulnerable Minors and Young Adult Refugees Free counseling for unaccompanied minors and young adults with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or trauma, including Ukrainian war refugees with disabilities. Provides orientation, clarification, and initial counseling on care/rehabilitation services, assistive devices, integration assistance applications, barrier-free housing, disability-related needs, school support, and kindergarten placement.
• Selbst-bestimmt f\u00fcr Vielfalt und Inklusion (ISP) (Self-Determined for Diversity and Inclusion) Project offering group meetings (every 8 weeks), counseling, public events, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and publications for people with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses. Topics include social participation, assistance, sustainability, crisis management, digital literacy, AI, social media, disinformation, and democracy.
• Selbstbestimmte Physiotherapie (Self-Determined Physiotherapy) Workshops and lectures for physiotherapy students and practicing physiotherapists on what self-determination means for people with disabilities and how to apply it in physiotherapy practice, including perspective-change and disability awareness training.
• Peer Counseling Peer counseling service based on the principle of 'disabled advising disabled' (Betroffene beraten Betroffene), providing empathetic listening, resource orientation, and empowerment for self-determined living.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AWO Landesverband Berlin - Fachstelle Migration & BehinderungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024AWO Berlin (Arbeiterwohlfahrt) supported the Brandbrief initiative as part of the coalition. AWO is a major German welfare organization with specific expertise in migration and disability.
• Netzwerk Persönliche Zukunftsplanung Berlin-BrandenburgminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024The network provides speakers (Sarah Schmid and Ursula Hansen) for BZSL's public events on personal futures planning, offering expertise on the planning methodology and its financing options.
• Bezirksamt Marzahn-HellersdorfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Cooperation with the disability representative of Bezirksamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf since 2016/2017. The Bezirksamt provides support for the AufAchse mobile advisory project targeting refugees with disabilities in the district.
• Bezirksamt PankowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Cooperation with the disability representative of Bezirksamt Pankow since 2016/2017. Supports the AufAchse mobile advisory project targeting refugees with disabilities in the district.
• Bezirksamt Treptow-KöpenickcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Cooperation with the disability representative of Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick since 2016/2017. Supports the AufAchse mobile advisory project targeting refugees with disabilities in the district.
• KommMit e.V./BBZ (Beratungsstelle für minderjährige Geflüchtete)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the AMIF project. Jens-Uwe Thomas serves as project lead and social advisor; Barik (Fadi) Khafaji provides social counseling. BBZ offers counseling for minor refugees in Berlin.
• Flüchtlingsrat BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the AMIF project providing initial and referral counseling per phone and email. The Flüchtlingsrat Berlin is a key refugee advocacy organization in Berlin.
• ISL e.V. (Interessenvertretung Selbstbestimmt Leben in Deutschland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISL e.V. is the national umbrella organization of the Centers for Independent Living (Zentren für selbstbestimmtes Leben). BZSL e.V. is a member. ISL co-supported the Brandbrief initiative. ISL and bifos e.V. jointly developed peer counseling training programs.
• ENIL (European Network on Independent Living)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBZSL e.V. is listed as a member of ENIL, the European Network on Independent Living, which connects independent living centers across Europe.
• Der Paritätische BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBZSL e.V. is a member of Der Paritätische Berlin (The Paritarian Berlin), one of the largest welfare associations in Germany. The Paritätische co-supported the Brandbrief initiative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Aktion Mensch: One of BZSL's largest funders and Germany's leading social funding organization for inclusion and disability. Acts partly as a peer ecosystem player (running inclusion initiatives) and partly as a funding sponsor for BZSL projects.

Broad incumbents

• Lebenshilfe Berlin: Major Berlin-based disability advocacy and service organization providing a broader portfolio of disability services, including housing, education, and family support. Comparable target population but operates as a larger incumbent with multiple service lines.
• Bundesverband Selbsthilfe Körperbehinderter (BSK): National self-help association for people with physical disabilities in Germany. Comparable disability advocacy focus and peer support orientation, but operates at national scale with broader political advocacy.
• Caritas Berlin: Large welfare association providing social services in Berlin, including disability and refugee services. Overlapping beneficiary population but with a broad service portfolio and a more professionalized (rather than peer-based) service model.
• Diakonie Berlin: Major welfare association offering disability, refugee, and social services in Berlin. Comparable service population and similar public funding sources, but broader in scope and more institutionalized than BZSL's peer-led model.
• AWO Berlin (Arbeiterwohlfahrt): Major welfare association in Berlin with specific Fachstelle Migration & Behinderung expertise. Co-signed the BZSL-initiated Brandbrief and serves overlapping refugee/disability populations.

Direct peers

• Zentrum für selbstbestimmtes Leben Hamburg (ZSL Hamburg): Other regional Center for Independent Living providing peer-based counseling for people with disabilities. Directly comparable model (EUTB, peer counseling, self-determination focus) operating in a different German city.
• ISL e.V. (Interessenvertretung Selbstbestimmt Leben in Deutschland): National umbrella of Centers for Independent Living in Germany. BZSL is a member and ISL provides the peer counseling certification framework that BZSL's advisors use. Direct peer in the self-determined living movement with overlapping service population.

Emerging players

• Netzwerk Persönliche Zukunftsplanung Berlin-Brandenburg: Network providing speakers and methodology for personalized future planning, closely partnered with BZSL's ISP project. Comparable grassroots, person-centered planning approach with a smaller regional footprint.
• Flüchtlingsrat Berlin: Berlin refugee advocacy organization partnering with BZSL on the AMIF project. Comparable work on refugee rights but specializes in broader refugee advocacy rather than disability-specific intersection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bzslev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bzsl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 BZSL