What Inclusion Handicap does

Inclusion Handicap is a Swiss non-profit umbrella organization (Dachverband/Verein) founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bern, with a second office in Zurich. It is the unified national voice for 1.9 million people with disabilities in Switzerland, coordinating 20 member organizations that span specific disability constituencies including TDAH elpos suisse, autisme suisse, FRAGILE Suisse, Procap, Pro Infirmis, PluSport, SGB-FSS, and others. The organization is politically independent and confessionally neutral, governed by a Delegates' Assembly with co-presidency held by the Swiss Paraplegics Association and Prof. Dr. Markus Schefer (who also sits on the UN CRPD Committee).

The organization's core activities operate across four pillars: political advocacy at the federal level, free or low-cost legal consultation on social insurance law (IV/AI, accident insurance) and equality/discrimination law, technical consulting on public transport accessibility (LHand compliance), and strategic litigation. Three flagship projects anchor the strategy: the Inklusions-Initiative (Popular Initiative submitted September 5, 2024 with 108,000 valid signatures, demanding legal equality and participation), the 'we claim' strategic litigation project (a 6-year test case program across education, work, private services, and public transport), and the Centre for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CDPH/ZRMB, co-founded Spring 2024). The organization does not develop technology products but runs a member extranet portal.

The business model is non-commercial and funded through four diversified streams: public contributions from federal authorities, member organization dues, foundation grants and donations, and service compensation. Legal consultations are free for initial advice; legal representation cases carry an annual fee of CHF 250 per case. The organization employs approximately 15 staff across two offices (Bern headquarters at Mühlemattstrasse 14a and Zurich at Grütlistrasse 20), with no publicly disclosed revenue figures. Day-to-day operations are led by Caroline Hess-Klein (Head of Equality, Chair of Executive Board) and Petra Kern (Head of Social Insurance, Vice Chair).

Name

Inclusion Handicap

Legal name

Inclusion Handicap

Website

https://inclusion-handicap.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Inclusion Handicap is the Swiss national umbrella organization for 20 disability member organizations, representing 1.9 million people with disabilities through federal-level political advocacy, free legal advice, public transport accessibility consulting, strategic litigation, and the Inclusion Initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Physical & Built Environment Accessibility (Classrooms, Housing, Events) (EDALAGAF)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Legal consultation
• Social insurance law
• Accessibility consulting
• Political lobbying

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public contributions: Funding from government/public authorities at federal level
2. Member organization contributions: Contributions from member organizations
3. Foundations and donations: Funding from foundations and charitable donations
4. Service compensation: Compensation for legal advice and other professional services provided

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Inclusion Handicap provides free and low-cost legal consultation on social insurance and equality law for people with disabilities, technical consulting on accessible public transport infrastructure for transport companies and authorities, political advocacy at the federal parliamentary level, and strategic litigation services through the "we claim" project. As the Swiss umbrella organization for 20 disability member organizations, it coordinates the unified voice of 1.9 million people with disabilities in Switzerland, advocating for legal and factual equality based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Product overview

Inclusion Handicap is Switzerland's umbrella organization for disability organizations, representing 1.9 million people with disabilities. The organization operates as a federation of services rather than a unified software platform, offering legal advice on social insurance and equality law, technical consulting for accessible public transportation, and managing three major advocacy initiatives: the Inklusions-Initiative (Inclusion Initiative), the we claim strategic litigation project, and the Centre for Disability Rights (CDPH/ZRMB). Core activities include political work at the federal level, information services through publications and newsletters, and a member portal for the 20 member organizations. The organization does not offer a technology product but provides advisory and advocacy services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• we claim: Strategic litigation project that helps people with disabilities who experience discrimination assert their rights in court, bringing about societal change and fighting systemic dysfunctions.
• Inklusions-Initiative (Inclusion Initiative)
• Centre for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CDPH/ZRMB)

Products and services

• Legal Advice Service (Rechtsberatung) Free initial legal consultation and low-cost legal representation for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers on Swiss social insurance law (IV/AI, accident insurance, supplementary benefits EL/PC) and equality/discrimination law. Delivered by phone and appointment in German and French across all Swiss cantons.
• Technical Public Transport Consulting (Technische Beratung ÖV) Technical consulting service for Swiss public transport companies and cantonal/communal authorities on accessibility standards under LHand law. Provides expert guidance on barrier-free infrastructure including wheelchair access, tactile guidance systems, ticket machines, and information systems for people with visual and hearing impairments. Inclusion Handicap participates in plan approval and homologation procedures with the Federal Office for Transport.
• we claim (Strategic Litigation Project) Strategic litigation project that supports people with disabilities who experience discrimination in asserting their rights in court through test case litigation. The project brings about societal change and fights systemic dysfunctions in education, work, private services, and public transport access.
• Inklusions-Initiative (Inclusion Initiative) Popular federal initiative demanding legal and factual equality, equal participation in society, self-determination, and necessary support measures for people with disabilities in Switzerland. Submitted with 108,000 valid signatures on September 5, 2024.
• Centre for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CDPH/ZRMB) Research centre that supports public and private actors in developing and implementing framework conditions for equal participation of people with disabilities in Switzerland. Develops concrete proposals for improving laws and regulations, and conducts annual conferences, legal training, and expert meetings on disability equality law.
• Political Advocacy and Lobbying Political advocacy at the Swiss federal level including parliamentary work with National Council and Council of States committees, public relations, and policy development to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Information Services and Publications (Informationsarbeit) Information services including the 'Handicap und Recht' newsletter, political dossiers, position papers, consultation responses, press releases, action plans, and the annual report informing about political developments and legal updates affecting people with disabilities in Switzerland.

Quantifiable outcome

• 108,000 valid signatures collected for the Inclusion Initiative, submitted September 5, 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• AGILE.CHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the five supporting organizations of the Inclusion Initiative, jointly advocating for equality, participation, self-determination, and assistance for people with disabilities.
• Amnesty International SuissecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the five supporting organizations of the Inclusion Initiative, contributing to human rights-based advocacy for disability rights.
• TatkraftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the five supporting organizations of the Inclusion Initiative, supporting the campaign for inclusion and equality.
• Prof. Markus Schefer (University of Basel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of the Centre for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CDPH/ZRMB) in spring 2024, bridging legal research and practice on disability rights.
• 20 Member OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination of joint interests including: TDAH elpos suisse, autisme suisse, FRAGILE Suisse, Architecture sans obstacles, inclusione andicap ticino, insieme Suisse, PluSport, Pro Audito Suisse, Procap, Pro Infirmis, Pro Mente Sana, Société suisse de la sclérose en plaques, Fondation Cerebral, SBV FSA, SGB-FSS, UCBA, ASP, Sonos, VDS/aDsr, Association Cerebral Suisse
• Swiss Federal Office for Transport (OFT)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInclusion Handicap participates in plan approval and homologation procedures with the Federal Office of Transport, examining vehicle plans and construction projects for LHand compliance.
• Parliamentary committeesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing political advocacy work with National Council and Council of States committees on disability legislation and policy.
• Accès pour tous FoundationminorOthersWebsite accessibility certification process underway to obtain WCAG 2.2 level AA+ certification.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Accès pour tous Foundation: Swiss foundation providing accessibility certification (WCAG, building standards) and an accessibility label for services across Switzerland. An adjacent accessibility ecosystem player that Inclusion Handicap already partners with for website accessibility certification.

Direct peers

• Pro Infirmis: One of Switzerland's largest disability service providers, offering legal advice, advocacy, and social services for people with disabilities. A member of Inclusion Handicap and operates comparable legal-counseling and information services nationally.
• Procap: Swiss disability organization providing legal advice, accessibility advocacy, and political representation for people with disabilities. A key Inclusion Handicap member offering directly overlapping legal and political services.
• SGB-FSS (Swiss Federation of the Deaf): Swiss national organization advocating for deaf and hearing-impaired people, providing political representation and accessibility consulting. A member of Inclusion Handicap with overlapping advocacy, legal advice, and policy engagement scope.
• insieme Suisse: Swiss umbrella for organizations serving people with intellectual disabilities, providing advocacy, legal information, and political representation. Sits within Inclusion Handicap's member ecosystem but operates comparable advocacy programs for a defined sub-population.
• AGILE.CH: Swiss umbrella organization of disability organizations that also advocates for equality, participation, and self-determination. Co-led the Inclusion Initiative with Inclusion Handicap and shares the same Swiss advocacy, legal, and political mandate.

Regional players

• BIZEPS - Zentrum für Selbstbestimmtes Leben Behinderter: Austrian center for self-determined living of people with disabilities, providing disability rights advocacy, legal information, and political engagement. Comparable niche advocacy-and-legal-information role to Inclusion Handicap but operating in Austria rather than Switzerland.

Broad incumbents

• European Disability Forum (EDF): EU-level umbrella of disability organizations representing over 100 million Europeans with disabilities. Operates as a Brussels-based policy and rights advocacy counterpart to Inclusion Handicap's national role in Switzerland.
• Humanity & Inclusion (Handicap International): Global disability-focused NGO combining advocacy, direct services, and accessibility programs across many countries, including Switzerland. Much larger scale and a broader mandate that encompasses advocacy plus service delivery in low-resource settings.

Emerging players

• Inclusion Europe: European federation advocating for people with intellectual disabilities and their families, emphasizing EU policy and rights. Comparable advocacy-thought-leadership structure but narrower population focus than Inclusion Handicap's broader Swiss mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inclusion-handicap

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 Inclusion Handicap