Associação PARA

What Associação PARA does

Associação PARA is a non-profit association founded in 2019 and headquartered in Pombal, Leiria, Portugal, focused on supporting people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families in central Portugal. The organization operates as a regional service provider with approximately 18 employees, delivering a portfolio that includes behavioral therapeutic intervention, school inclusion strategies, specialized training programs, support for the transition to adult life, and the development of publications, events, and educational materials. PARA also hosts annual PAI Conferences, which function as a knowledge-exchange platform for families, educators, and clinicians working in the autism support field.

The association's business model is structured around Portuguese public-sector co-financing, primarily through IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) and INR (Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação), supplemented by competitive grants such as the BPI Capacitar 2022 program and individual support via the "Ser Associado" membership program. Service delivery is regional in scope, anchored in the Pombal/Leiria catchment, with beneficiaries comprising autistic individuals, their families, local schools, and the broader community. PARA maintains an active digital presence through its website (associacaopara.com) and social media channels, and produces recurring educational content and events to extend its reach beyond direct clinical service delivery. No proprietary technology products, patents, or AI-driven platforms underpin its operations; PARA is a labor-intensive, mission-driven services organization.

Name

Associação PARA

Legal name

Associação PARA

Website

https://associacaopara.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associação PARA is a Portuguese non-profit founded in 2019 in Pombal, Leiria, delivering autism support services — including behavioral therapy, school inclusion, training, and adult-life transition programs — to autistic individuals, families, and schools in central Portugal, funded primarily through public co-financing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Behavioral Support (School-Based ABA/PBIS) (EDAKAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), ABA Staff Training & RBT/Paraprofessional Support Services (EDAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Autism support services
• Behavioral therapeutic intervention
• School inclusion strategies
• Specialized professional training
• Adult transition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pombal

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Co-financing and Grants: Associação PARA operates as a non-profit and appears to be funded through co-financing arrangements with government entities and institutional partners. The organization displays logos of co-financing entities including IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional), INR (Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação), and BPI Capacitar 2022, indicating reliance on public and institutional funding.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Associação PARA is a Portuguese non-profit association that delivers a coordinated set of support programs for individuals with autism and their families. Its offerings span five areas: behavioral therapeutic intervention, school inclusion strategies, specialized training for professionals and families, transition to adult life support, and the dissemination of publications, events and educational materials aimed at community awareness. The organization is funded through co-financing arrangements with Portuguese public entities (IEFP, INR) and BPI Capacitar 2022.

Product overview

Associação PARA operates as a nonprofit organization focused on autism support, offering a coordinated set of service programs rather than a commercial product portfolio. The organization's offerings include behavioral therapeutic intervention, school inclusion strategies, specialized training, transition to adult life support, and the dissemination of publications, events, and educational materials. These services are designed to work together as a comprehensive support system for individuals with autism and their families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Projeto de Apoio e Recursos para o Autismo: Support and Resources Project for Autism - the core project name and mission descriptor for the association.

Products and services

• Behavioral Therapeutic Intervention (Intervenção Terapêutica Comportamental)
• School Inclusion Strategies (Estratégias de Inclusão Escolar)
• Specialized Training (Formação Especializada)
• Transition to Adult Life (Transição para a Vida Adulta)
• Publications, Events and Materials (Publicações, Eventos e Materiais)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Autism Europe: European-level umbrella organization representing people with autism and their families across the continent. Comparable as a regional advocacy and awareness body, though at a continental rather than national scale.
• Fundación Autismo Diario: Spanish foundation dedicated to autism awareness and family resources. Comparable as a content-and-advocacy organization focused on autism, operating in a neighboring country with similar service philosophy.
• Asociación Autismo Sevilla: Spanish regional autism association offering therapeutic intervention, school inclusion, and training. Comparable in service mix and nonprofit association model, but operating in Spain rather than Portugal.

Direct peers

• Confederação Portuguesa de Pais e Amigos dos Cidadãos com Deficiência: Portuguese confederation supporting citizens with disabilities and their families. Comparable as a nonprofit providing community integration, advocacy, and family support overlapping with PARA's broader mission.
• Associação Portuguesa de Autismo (APA): One of Portugal's oldest autism-focused associations, providing therapeutic intervention, education, and family support. Directly comparable in mission, service mix, and nonprofit association structure.
• Federação Portuguesa de Autismo: Umbrella federation representing Portuguese autism associations, including regional member organizations. Directly comparable as a coordinating body operating in the same autism-support nonprofit space as PARA.
• APPDA – Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo: Portuguese national autism association providing similar intervention, inclusion, and family support services. Directly comparable as a fellow nonprofit serving the autism community in Portugal with overlapping program categories.

Broad incumbents

• Autism Speaks: Large US-based autism advocacy and services organization with international reach. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in awareness, family services, and inclusion training globally.
• National Autistic Society: UK's largest charity for people with autism, offering services, training, and advocacy. Comparable as a mature, broad-spectrum incumbent in the autism support space with programs overlapping all five of PARA's service pillars.

Emerging players

• Specialisterne: Organization focused on employment and adult transition for people with autism. Comparable in the specific 'Transição para a Vida Adulta' pillar that PARA offers, though with an employment-first lens.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AssociacaoPara
• Facebookfacebook.com/para.autismo
• Instagraminstagram.com/autismo_para2019
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associacaopara2019

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Associação PARA