South West Special Recreation Association (SWSRA)

What South West Special Recreation Association (SWSRA) does

SWSRA (South West Special Recreation Association) is a non-profit therapeutic recreation organization headquartered at 12521 S. Kostner Ave., Alsip, Illinois, that delivers year-round recreation programs and services for individuals with intellectual and/or physical disabilities across member districts in the southwest suburban Chicago area. The organization's program portfolio centers on two flagship offerings: the OASIS Adult Day Program, which supports adults with disabilities in developing independence, social skills, and life skills through structured activities and community engagement; and the Sensory Depot, a dedicated sensory facility equipped with specialized items such as bubble tubes that allow participants to explore textures, sounds, and visuals in a safe, pressure-free environment. The organization states that it serves participants from early childhood through adulthood, with programs designed to promote physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

SWSRA's technology footprint is modest and typical of a small community nonprofit: a Squarespace-hosted website with online program brochures distributed via Issuu, a PayPal-based donation channel, and an active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Registration is handled through traditional channels — email, mail, fax, or in-person drop-off — rather than via a digital self-service portal, and there is no proprietary mobile application, API, or SDK. Approximately 16 employees operate out of a single headquarters with office hours of Monday–Friday, 10:00am–4:00pm.

The business model combines three revenue streams: program registration fees from participants, voluntary donations (via PayPal), and municipal/government funding from member park districts. SWSRA is governed by a Board of Directors and participates in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), embedding it within Illinois' public-sector employee benefits infrastructure. The organization publishes an annual report (FY2025), board agendas, and FOIA-compliant disclosures, and operates as a member-district-supported association rather than as a venture- or grant-funded entity.

Name

South West Special Recreation Association (SWSRA)

Legal name

South West Special Recreation Association of Illinois

Website

https://swsra.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SWSRA is an Illinois non-profit that delivers year-round therapeutic recreation programs and services for individuals with intellectual and/or physical disabilities across southwest suburban Chicago member districts, anchored by the OASIS Adult Day Program and Sensory Depot.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Recreation Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLADAIAI

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Adult Day Health Care & Senior Day Care

SECONDARYHSABANAF

Therapeutic Adult Day Programs (PT/OT/SLP, Cognitive Rehab)

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Adult Day Care & Senior Day Programs

SECONDARYHLADAIAD

Adult Day Rehabilitation & Therapy Programs (PT/OT/SLP)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Adult Day Health Care & Senior Day Care

SECONDARYHLADAKAC

Adult Day Respite Programs (Daytime Relief)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Respite Care Services (Short-Term Elder Care)

SECONDARYEDACAFAG

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Intervention & Developmental Services (0–5)

Keywords

• Therapeutic recreation programs
• Special recreation services
• Disability recreation programs
• Adult day programs
• Sensory therapy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alsip

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Fees collected from participants for enrollment in therapeutic recreation programs and services.
2. Donations: Voluntary contributions from donors to support the organization's mission and programs.
3. Municipal/Government Funding: SWSRA participates in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) and likely receives funding from member districts, indicating public/municipal financial support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SWSRA delivers year-round therapeutic recreation programs and services for individuals with intellectual and/or physical disabilities, spanning early childhood through adulthood. Its flagship named offerings are the OASIS Adult Day Program (focused on building independence and social skills for adults) and the Sensory Depot (a dedicated sensory room facility with bubble tubes and specialized sensory equipment). Participants and families register directly for programs via the organization's website, email, mail, fax, or in-person drop-off.

Product overview

SWSRA offers a portfolio of therapeutic recreation programs and services for individuals with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. The core offerings include the OASIS Adult Day Program for adults seeking to develop independence and social skills, and the Sensory Depot for sensory exploration. The organization provides year-round programs designed for individuals from early childhood through adulthood, focusing on physical, mental, and emotional wellness through recreation activities and special events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OASIS: Adult Day Program providing services for adults with disabilities
• Sensory Depot

Products and services

• OASIS Adult Day Program An adult day program designed for adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities that helps participants develop independence, social skills, self-expression, and life skills through structured activities, community engagement, and volunteering opportunities.
• Sensory Depot A sensory room facility providing therapeutic sensory experiences for individuals with disabilities, featuring specialized equipment such as bubble tubes, varied textures, sounds, and visuals, allowing participants to freely explore and learn through play in a relaxing, safe environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants report improved socialization, independence, and self-expression through program participation.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Clearbrook: Illinois-based nonprofit providing residential, vocational, and therapeutic programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — overlapping in mission and disability population.
• Little City Foundation: Chicago-area nonprofit providing residential, therapeutic, vocational, and recreational services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability services including recreation, therapy, and adult day programs — comparable mission and service mix but at far greater geographic and programmatic scale.
• Ray Graham Association: Illinois nonprofit supporting children and adults with disabilities through residential, day, and recreational programs — overlapping in adult day and disability services.
• The Arc of Illinois: Statewide advocacy and service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering programs adjacent to therapeutic recreation and family support.

Direct peers

• Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA): Illinois special recreation association providing inclusive and specialized recreation programs, special events, and adaptive services for residents with disabilities across western DuPage County.
• Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA): Illinois-based special recreation association serving northern suburban Chicago member districts with therapeutic recreation programs for individuals with disabilities — the closest structural analogue to SWSRA.
• Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA): Illinois-based special recreation association offering therapeutic recreation, inclusion services, and adaptive programs for individuals with disabilities in the Fox Valley region.
• South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation (SEASPAR): Illinois special recreation association providing year-round therapeutic recreation programs and inclusion services for individuals with disabilities across southeast suburban Chicago member districts.
• Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation (M-NASR): Special recreation association serving Maine and Niles townships in suburban Chicago with therapeutic recreation programs for individuals with disabilities — directly comparable member-district model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/swsra
• Facebookfacebook.com/South-West-Special-Recreation-Association-SWSRA-84372656330
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-west-special-recreation-association-swsra
• Instagraminstagram.com/we_are_swsra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South West Special Recreation Association (SWSRA)