SNABLIND Swiss National Association of and for the Blind

What SNABLIND Swiss National Association of and for the Blind does

SZBLIND (Schweizerischer Zentralverein für das Blindenwesen), also known as SNABLIND, is the Swiss national umbrella association for blind and visually impaired organizations, founded in 1903 and headquartered in St. Gallen with a staff of 45 employees. The organization coordinates 38 specialist and advisory offices nationwide and operates 7 specialized centers for hearing-visual impairment and deaf-blindness across German-, French-, and Italian-speaking Switzerland, serving the country's approximately 377,000 people living with visual impairment, blindness, or deaf-blindness. Its core service portfolio includes social counseling, rehabilitation, an assistive devices shop with over 600 products, Low Vision and CVI (Cerebral Visual Impairment) specialty centers, communication assistance training, and education and recreation programs, supported by a network of over 250 trained volunteers delivering more than 20,000 hours of companionship services annually.

The organization's technology footprint is centered on accessibility rather than software: it introduced NaviLens digital signage wayfinding at its St. Gallen, Lausanne, and Lenzburg locations (a first in Switzerland), developed tactile voting templates (Abstimmungsschablonen) that received unanimous parliamentary approval for nationwide deployment at national elections, and maintains a centralized purchasing and distribution system for assistive aids. SZBLIND also conducts accessibility advocacy through litigation and policy work, notably co-winning a Federal Court ruling on autonomous travel rights for visually impaired persons on SBB Dosto trains. The organization holds the Zewo Foundation quality seal for transparent donation use and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility certification for its website.

Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring donations (with publicly suggested tiers of CHF 4, 16, or 20 per month from a supporter base of 55,000+), membership fees from associated and ordinary member organizations including sbv, SBb, CAB, UCBA, UCBC, and Unitas, sales of assistive devices through the online shop, and training and education course fees (with discounted rates for member organizations). The organization's geographic scope is domestic Switzerland, with multilingual service delivery in German, French, Italian, and English.

Name

SNABLIND Swiss National Association of and for the Blind

Legal name

Schweizerischer Zentralverein für das Blindenwesen SZBLIND

Website

https://szblind.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SZBLIND is the Swiss national umbrella association for blind and visually impaired organizations, founded 1903, coordinating 38 specialist offices and 7 specialized deaf-blind centers across Switzerland to serve approximately 377,000 beneficiaries with counseling, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Assistive Technology for the Blind and Visually Impaired

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Assistive Vision & Screen Access (Screen Readers, Magnification, Braille Displays/Notetakers) (EDAFAKAD)

Keywords

• Assistive devices distribution
• Visual impairment rehabilitation
• Deaf-blind social counseling
• Communication assistance services
• Accessibility advocacy nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Gallen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies heavily on donations from supporters. Regular monthly donations are encouraged at CHF 4, 16, or 20 levels. The organization has approximately 55,000 supporters who donate.
2. Membership Fees: Member organizations pay fees based on their status (associated or ordinary) as defined in SZBLIND statutes.
3. Sales of Assistive Aids: Sale of assistive devices and aids through the SZBLIND shop. The organization purchases products centrally and distributes throughout Switzerland.
4. Training and Education Courses: Educational programs and courses for professionals and affected individuals with course fees. Discounted rates available for member organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SZBLIND is the Swiss national umbrella association for blind and visually impaired organizations, providing social counseling, rehabilitation, communication assistance, education and recreation programs, and a volunteer companion service for people with blindness, visual impairment, deaf-blindness, or hearing-visual impairment. The organization also distributes more than 600 assistive products through its online shop and runs specialized centers for Low Vision, CVI (Cerebral Visual Impairment), and Usher Syndrome.

Product overview

SZBLIND operates as a national coordination body for blind and visually impaired organizations in Switzerland, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services rather than a single product. The core offerings include specialized consultation centers for hearing-visual impairment and deaf-blindness (seven locations), an assistive devices shop with over 600 products, Low Vision and CVI specialized centers, communication assistance training, and education/recreation programs. Additional services encompass volunteer companion programs, an online directory of support services, and an information center for deaf people with visual impairment/Usher Syndrome. The organization also provides specialized training, rehabilitation services, and social counseling, all designed to enable independent living for people with visual and hearing impairments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hilfsmittelshop (Assistive Devices Shop) Online shop offering over 600 partially self-developed or adapted assistive devices for daily use for blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind individuals; products are purchased centrally and distributed throughout Switzerland.
• Fachstellen für Hörsehbehinderung und Taubblindheit (Specialized Centers for Hearing-Visual Impairment and Deaf-Blindness) Seven specialized centers across Switzerland providing social counseling, rehabilitation, assistance, accompaniment, and leisure activities for people with combined hearing and visual impairments.
• Fachstelle Low Vision (Low Vision Center) Center serving rehabilitation professionals, eye care specialists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, visually impaired individuals and their families; provides information on optical aids, lighting solutions, and distributes test materials.
• Fachstelle CVI (Cerebral Visual Impairment Center) Specialized center for professionals in rehabilitation, ophthalmology, orthoptics, neuropsychology, and institutions serving people with Visual Processing and Perception Disorders (VVWS) / Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI).
• Kommunikationsassistenz (Communication Assistance Service) Trained communication assistants who support people with hearing-visual impairment and deaf-blindness in communication and access to information; assistants complete a 20-day training program plus practical components.
• Bildungs- und Freizeitangebote (Education and Recreation Programs) Year-round educational and leisure programs adapted for people with hearing-visual impairment and deaf-blindness, including themed courses, creative workshops, cultural excursions, and holidays.
• Freiwillige Begleitpersonen (Volunteer Companion Program) Program coordinating over 250 volunteers who accompany people with hearing-visual impairment or deaf-blindness on walks, medical visits, shopping, sports, travel, events, or holidays; delivers more than 20,000 hours of service annually.
• Online-Directory www.angebote-schlechtsehen.ch Online directory providing a comprehensive overview of support services for people with visual and hearing-visual impairments in Switzerland, filterable by age, topic (work, leisure, early intervention, aids, rehabilitation, school, social counseling, housing), and canton.
• Infostelle für gehörlose Menschen mit Sehbehinderung / Usher-Syndrom Information center operated jointly with the Swiss Association of the Deaf (SGB-FSS) that raises awareness about visual impairment in sign-language-using deaf people, particularly those affected by Usher Syndrome.
• Abstimmungsschablonen (Tactile Voting Templates) Tactile voting templates developed by SZBLIND enabling blind and visually impaired people to vote independently at Swiss national elections while maintaining ballot secrecy; unanimously approved by both the National Council and Council of States for nationwide implementation.
• Training and Continuing Education Courses Educational programs and courses for professionals and affected individuals on visual impairment, rehabilitation, and related topics; discounted rates for SZBLIND member organizations, with a CHF 50 processing fee for late registration and tiered cancellation terms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 377,000 people with visual impairment reached in Switzerland
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Canon SchweiznotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 November 2024Partnership for the 'World Unseen' inclusive photo exhibition at Sihlcity Zurich. Canon provided Elevated Print technology for tactile printing of exhibition images, while SZBLIND contributed accessibility expertise. The exhibition made pictures feelable and audible for people with visual impairments.
• EoneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 December 2022Partnership with watch manufacturer Eone and platform QoQa for sale of accessible watches. Proceeds from sales donated to SZBLIND for providing aids to people with visual impairment. Each watch purchased resulted in a donation to SZBLIND.
• QoQa (Qlock)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 December 2022E-commerce platform for the SZBLIND-Eone partnership campaign, selling accessible Eone watches December 6-9, 2022.
• NaviLenscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2022Introduction of NaviLens digital signage technology at SZBLIND locations in St. Gallen, Lausanne, and Lenzburg. This technology uses colorful QR-code-like tags to help blind and visually impaired people navigate SZBLIND facilities independently - a first in Switzerland.
• Swiss Health Observatory (Obsan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZBLIND and member organizations participated in the Obsan report on hearing and visual impairments in Switzerland. The report validates the need for professional support services and highlights the increased need for counseling in hearing-visual impairment.
• Inclusion HandicapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Inclusion Handicap on advocacy for accessibility in public transportation. SZBLIND supported the complaint against SBB's Dosto trains that led to a Federal Court ruling favoring autonomous travel rights for people with disabilities.
• Swiss Federation of the Deaf (SGB-FSS)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation of the information center for deaf people with visual impairment / Usher Syndrome. Collaboration between SZBLIND and SGB-FSS to support deaf-gestural language users with visual impairment.
• Member Organizations (sbv, SBb, CAB, UCBA, UCBC, Unitas)coreOthersSZBLIND serves as the national umbrella organization coordinating member organizations: Schweizerischer Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband (sbv), Schweizerischer Blindenbund (SBb), Schweizerische Caritasaktion der Blinden (CAB), Union centrale suisse pour le bien des aveugles (UCBA), Unione centrale svizzera per il bene dei ciechi (UCBC), and Unitas.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): UK national charity for blind and partially sighted people, providing advice, support, assistive products, and campaigning for accessibility — the closest functional analogue to SZBLIND outside Switzerland.
• CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind): Canada's national nonprofit serving people with vision loss through rehabilitation, assistive technology, advocacy, and community programs — directly comparable mission and operating model to SZBLIND.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): US national organization addressing blindness and vision impairment through advocacy, research, and service programs — closely parallels SZBLIND's national coordination role.
• Braille Institute: US nonprofit serving people with vision loss through education, training, and assistive technology programs — directly comparable service delivery model.
• DBSV (Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband): German national association of the blind and visually impaired — analogous German-speaking peer providing counseling, advocacy, and coordination of member organizations.
• LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, training, and assistive technology services to blind and low-vision individuals — comparable specialized service portfolio.
• Vision Australia: Australian national blindness and low-vision services organization offering assistive technology, therapy, and advocacy — comparable integrated service and policy mandate.
• ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles): Spanish national organization for the blind providing social services, employment, education, and assistive technology — comparable scale and breadth of services.

Regional players

• Fédération des Aveugles et Amblyopes de France (FAF): French national federation representing blind and visually impaired people with advocacy and member coordination — operates in a neighboring market with similar national coordination structure.

Others

• NaviLens: Spanish technology company whose digital wayfinding system SZBLIND deployed across three Swiss sites as a first-in-Switzerland pilot — adjacent technology partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz5W4L0mep5ZdikqhCjVh8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/szblind
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/szblind
• Instagraminstagram.com/szblind

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 SNABLIND Swiss National Association of and for the Blind