APPDA-Algarve

What APPDA-Algarve does

APPDA-Algarve – Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo is a Portuguese private non-profit IPSS (Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social) headquartered in Portimão, Algarve, founded in 2006 by a group of parents to promote the development, education, social integration, and active participation of people with developmental disorders and autism (PDA) in the Faro District. The organization was additionally constituted as an ONGPD (Non-Governmental Organization for Persons with Disabilities) on November 9, 2017, and is federated with the Federação Portuguesa de Autismo and Autism-Europe.

Its core service portfolio comprises structured day and community programs: Programa Escolhas E9G ('No Coração do Bairro', serving children and youth in social housing neighborhoods), Clube Juvenil (day program for adults over 18 with special needs covering daily living skills, Snoezelen sensory room, swimming, karate, and surfing), Bairros Saudáveis (community health program), PLAYTHER (European therapeutic play project), and WOI – Waves of Inclusion (Erasmus+ transnational inclusion project). The 'Autísticos' therapeutic music band, founded October 14, 2014 by psychologist Nélia Capelinha, operates as both a therapy modality and awareness/fundraising channel, with a self-titled CD recorded between 2019 and 2022. Underlying service delivery is built on traditional therapeutic disciplines — music therapy, Snoezelen multisensory environments, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychomotor therapy, and educational psychology — rather than on technology platforms.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than transactional. As an IPSS, APPDA-Algarve provides services to beneficiaries free of charge and derives revenue from Portuguese Social Security funding, EU co-financing via Portugal 2030 and Algarve 2030 (channeled through IPDJ), Erasmus+ project grants, IRS and IVA tax consignations (NIF 509 334 997), membership fees, individual and corporate donations (including BPI-CaixaBank, Pereira Gago, Rotary Club Portimão, Guerreiros, and Ricky Travel), and minor revenue from 'Autísticos' band performances and CD sales. The organization operates with approximately 5 employees, serves beneficiaries across roughly 16 municipalities in the Faro District, and holds no parent company, subsidiaries, or external investors.

Name

APPDA-Algarve

Legal name

APPDA-Algarve – Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo

Website

https://appda-algarve.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

APPDA-Algarve is a Portuguese non-profit IPSS founded in 2006, based in Portimão, that delivers therapeutic, educational, and social inclusion programs for children, youth, and adults with developmental disorders and autism across the Faro District of the Algarve.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Autism Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Assistive Technology (AT) Access & AAC Access Support (OT-Led) (EDAKAFAG)

Keywords

• Autism support services
• Developmental disorders care
• Social solidarity programs
• Therapeutic education services
• Community inclusion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Portimão

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Social Solidarity Funding: As an IPSS (Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social), APPDA-Algarve receives government funding from social security and public programs. This includes co-financing from Portugal 2030, Algarve 2030, and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports through IPDJ (Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude).
2. Donations and Tax Consignations: Individual donors can make cash or in-kind donations. Tax consignation through IRS (Personal Income Tax) and IVA (Value Added Tax) with NIF 509 334 997 allows donors to direct a percentage of taxes to the association at no cost to themselves. Traffic fines and court/financial penalties can also be directed to the organization.
3. Membership Fees: Revenue from association members (associados) who pay membership fees to support the organization's mission.
4. Erasmus+ and European Project Funding: International EU funding through Erasmus+ program supporting cross-border initiatives like the WOI (Waves of Inclusion) project involving partner organizations from Spain, Italy, and Sweden.
5. Event and CD Revenue: Revenue generated from performances by the 'Autísticos' band at events, and from sales of their self-titled CD recorded between 2019 and 2022.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

APPDA-Algarve is a Portuguese non-profit Private Social Solidarity Institution (IPSS) that delivers therapeutic, educational, and social integration programs for children, youth, and adults with developmental disorders and autism (PDA) and their families in the Faro District. Its offerings include day programs, music therapy through the Autísticos band, Snoezelen sensory rooms, occupational and speech therapy, and community inclusion projects co-financed by EU and Portuguese government programs.

Product overview

APPDA-Algarve is a non-profit social welfare institution (IPSS) providing community support services for people with developmental disorders and autism in the Algarve region. The organization offers a portfolio of social programs including youth development initiatives (Programa Escolhas E9G, Clube Juvenil), community health programs (Bairros Saudáveis), therapeutic music activities (Banda Autísticos), and participates in European inclusion projects (PLAYTHER, WOI – Waves of Inclusion). These programs collectively aim to support daily acolhimento, skill development, social integration, and quality of life for beneficiaries and their families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Autísticos: Official band of APPDA-Algarve, founded on October 14, 2014 by psychologist Nélia Capelinha. The band consists of young people with developmental disorders and autism (PDE), led by Levi Nascimento (keyboards and vocals) and Fábio Martins (drums and vocals), led by President Cesariano Martins. They recorded a CD titled 'Autísticos' between 2019 and 2022.

Products and services

• Programa Escolhas E9G (No Coração do Bairro) A community program providing personal and social development support, educational reinforcement, therapies, sensory stimulation, and positive parenting activities for children, youth, and families from social housing neighborhoods (Coca-Maravilhas, Cruz da Parteira, Pontal, Cardosas) in Portimão.
• Clube Juvenil A daily program for young adults over 18 with special needs not subject to compulsory schooling, focused on developing autonomy through daily living skills training, social competencies, motor and creative activities including swimming, karate, Snoezelen sessions, and surfing.
• Bairros Saudáveis A health-focused community program that contributes to the quality of life of residents in social neighborhoods through health promotion and well-being initiatives.
• PLAYTHER A European project that uses therapeutic play as an inclusion tool for people with developmental disorders and autism.
• WOI – Waves of Inclusion A European transnational Erasmus+ project that promotes social inclusion of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder in cultural, leisure, and sports activities through best practice exchange and training across partner countries.
• Autísticos (Therapeutic Music Band) The official therapeutic music band of APPDA-Algarve that uses music therapy to promote communication, socialization, emotional stimulation, and quality of life for young people with developmental disorders and autism. Performs at public events, sensitization actions, lectures, and training sessions.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude (IPDJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Portuguese Institute for Sports and Youth - main promoter of the 'No Coração do Bairro - E9G' program. Provides co-funding through Portugal 2030 and Algarve 2030 EU programs.
• Autismo SevilhacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Spanish partner in the WOI (Waves of Inclusion) European project. Autismo Sevilha collaborates on sharing best practices for inclusion of people with autism in leisure, culture, and sports activities. Participated in the first transnational seminar in Gothenburg (September 2021) focused on cultural event access.
• Margarita Sports e Vita (IT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Italian partner in the WOI project. Contributes expertise on sports inclusion for people with autism. Participated in the second transnational seminar in Spain (November 2021) focused on sports event access.
• Svenska Ungdom League (SW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Swedish partner in the WOI project. Provides perspective on youth and leisure inclusion. Participated in transnational seminars and benchmarking activities for autism inclusion best practices.
• Federação Portuguesa de AutismocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017National federation that APPDA-Algarve is affiliated with, providing access to national resources, advocacy, and collaboration with other regional autism associations.
• Autism-EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017European umbrella organization for autism. APPDA-Algarve adheres to the Charter for People with Autism adopted by the European Parliament and participates in international knowledge sharing.
• Segurança SocialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese Social Security system that recognizes APPDA-Algarve as an IPSS (Private Institution of Social Solidarity), providing regulatory oversight and funding eligibility.
• Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação (INR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Institute for Rehabilitation - registered the association as an NGO for persons with disabilities (ONGPD) in 2017, formalizing its role in disability advocacy.
• Câmara Municipal de PortimãocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortimão municipal government, one of the local authorities providing support and collaboration with the association's programs.
• Câmara Municipal de SilvesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilves municipal government providing local support and collaboration.
• Câmara Municipal de Vila do BispominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVila do Bispo municipal government providing local support.
• IEFP - Instituto do Emprego e Formação ProfissionalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese Employment and Vocational Training Institute that supports the organization's employment and training initiatives.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• APPDA Coimbra: Central regional delegation of APPDA in the Coimbra region delivering autism-specific therapeutic, educational, and family support services under the same national federation.
• APPC – Associação Portuguesa de Paralisia Cerebral: Portuguese nonprofit providing therapeutic, educational, and residential support for people with cerebral palsy and similar developmental disabilities under the IPSS framework; comparable operating model and beneficiary profile.
• APPDA Norte: Northern regional delegation of the same national 'Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo' umbrella, serving PDA beneficiaries in the Porto/northern region with comparable IPSS-registered therapeutic and educational programs.
• ANEA – Associação Nacional de Espectro Autista: Portuguese national association dedicated to the autism spectrum, providing direct family support, advocacy, and therapeutic services; directly comparable mission and beneficiary base to APPDA-Algarve.
• APPDA Lisboa: Lisbon regional delegation of the APPDA federation, providing autism and developmental disorder services in the Lisbon region under the same IPSS model and federation membership.

Broad incumbents

• Autism-Europe: European federation APPDA-Algarve adheres to; coordinates pan-European autism advocacy and knowledge sharing, providing international context and best practices to APPDA-Algarve.
• Federação Portuguesa de Autismo: National umbrella federation of which APPDA-Algarve is a member; coordinates advocacy, standards, and resource pooling across Portuguese autism associations.
• CERCIPortugal – Confederação Nacional das Cooperativas de Educação e Reabilitação: National confederation of Portuguese CERCIs (cooperatives for the education and rehabilitation of citizens with disabilities), operating a similar IPSS-style model of multi-modality therapeutic and social services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/appda-algarve

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about APPDA-Algarve