Unadev - Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients Visuels

What Unadev - Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients Visuels does

Unadev (Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients Visuels) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 1929 and headquartered in Bordeaux, operating 8 regional centers across France to support blind and visually impaired individuals. Its service portfolio spans adapted housing (FAM), assisted living residences (Foyer-Logement), specialized professional training, employment assistance, guide dog provision (more than 800 dogs delivered since 1985), and nationwide mobile outreach via "Le Bus de l'Unadev." The organization serves over 4,000 beneficiaries annually and is staffed by 147 employees supplemented by more than 380 volunteers per year.

Unadev's business model is funded primarily through individual donations, legacies/bequests, corporate partnerships, and volunteer mobilization, with a nascent fourth stream from Qualiopi-certified professional training obtained in April 2024. The association has cumulatively allocated over €9 million to medical research since 2015 and operates a curriculum that includes AI-tool training modules for professionals working with visually impaired people, positioning it as an end-user adopter of AI rather than a developer. It also runs the public-facing "Mise à Vue" campaign launched in 2024 to raise the visibility of blind and visually impaired populations in France.

Governance rests with president Manuelle Mellado, re-elected on June 28, 2025, signaling strategic continuity. The association combines service delivery, research funding, and public advocacy under a single national structure, competing principally against other French disability charities and public-sector service providers rather than commercial players. Its competitive position rests on its near-century brand, regional distribution footprint, and recognized regulatory status rather than on proprietary technology.

Name

Unadev - Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients Visuels

Legal name

Unadev - Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients Visuels

Website

https://unadev.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Unadev is a French non-profit founded in 1929 that supports blind and visually impaired people through 8 regional centers, training programs, adapted housing, guide dog services, and mobile outreach, serving over 4,000 beneficiaries annually with 147 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

Keywords

• Visual impairment support
• Disability social services
• Ophthalmology screening
• Guide dog financing
• Accessibility training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: Individual donors provide financial support through one-time or monthly donations. The association mentions that all social activities are financed through the generosity of numerous donors and partners.
2. Legacies and bequests: The association accepts legacies and bequests from supporters who wish to leave a lasting contribution to the organization.
3. Corporate partnerships: Companies can support the association through corporate donations and partnerships for societal action.
4. Volunteering: Volunteers contribute their time and skills to support the association's activities and beneficiaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Unadev is a non-profit association that provides free social support, home autonomy services, adapted training (multimedia, Braille, foreign languages, professional development), guide dog financing, cultural and sports activities, and free ophthalmology screening through a mobile bus for blind and visually impaired persons in France. The organization operates eight regional centers, a national home assistance device (DNAAD), and funds medical research, serving over 4,000 beneficiaries annually and sensitizing over 11,000 members of the public each year.

Product overview

Unadev is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive ecosystem of services for blind and visually impaired persons in France. The core offering combines social support through specialized professionals (CESF, AVS, AVJ), home autonomy services (SAD in Bordeaux, DNAAD nationally), and adapted training programs (digital skills, Braille, foreign languages, professional development). Key distinctive services include a mobile ophthalmology screening bus providing free eye disease detection, guide dog financing through 4 partner schools, and 8 regional activity centers offering cultural and sports programs. The organization publishes the quarterly Lumen magazine in accessible formats (audio, large print, Braille) and supports medical research with over 9 million euros allocated since 2015. Awareness programs target schools, businesses, and the general public. All training services are free for visually impaired persons, with the training organization certified Qualiopi since April 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accompagnement social (Social Support) Personalized social support provided by Conseillers en Économie Sociale et Familiale (CESF) to help visually impaired persons with administrative procedures, accessing rights (AAH, PCH, RQTH), and navigating social services.
• SAD - Service d'Autonomie à Domicile Home autonomy service operating in the Bordeaux metropolitan area, staffed by 17 trained auxiliary life assistants providing daily living assistance to blind and visually impaired persons.
• DNAAD - Dispositif National d'Aide à Domicile National home assistance device providing financial support as a last resort for auxiliary life or home help services for visually impaired persons outside the Bordeaux metropolitan area, with a network of 163 labeled partners representing 514 agencies nationwide.
• Formation multimédia adaptée (Adapted Multimedia Training) Digital autonomy training for visually impaired persons covering computer usage (Windows with JAWS/NVDA/Narrator, Mac OS with VoiceOver), smartphone/tablet navigation (iOS with VoiceOver, Android with TalkBack), internet browsing, email management, and accessibility tools. Delivered by 15 multimedia instructors across 9 centers.
• Formation professionnelle continue (Continuing Professional Training) Professional development training for sector workers on visual impairment topics, delivered in small groups with participatory methods. Organization certified Qualiopi since April 2024.
• Apprentissage du Braille (Braille Training) Training programs for learning integral and abbreviated Braille, available for both visually impaired and sighted persons, covering reading and writing skills.
• Formation en langues étrangères (Foreign Language Training) Language training programs including English (levels A1, A2, B1) and German (levels A1, A2, B1) adapted for visually impaired persons.
• Financement de chiens guides (Guide Dog Financing) Funding of guide dogs for blind and visually impaired persons across France. Supports 4 partner schools (CECIDEV, CIE, Les 4 A, À Vue de Truffe). Since 1985, over 800 guide dogs have been provided. Dogs are given free to recipients after 20 months of training.
• Bus de l'Unadev (Mobile Ophthalmology Screening Bus) Mobile ophthalmology unit traveling across France providing free screening for 4 main blinding diseases: AMD, glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy. Equipped with retinography, tonopachymetry, and slit lamp examination capabilities. Screens over 2,500 persons annually with 12% suspected of blinding diseases.
• Lumen Magazine Free quarterly magazine dedicated to visual impairment, available in audio, large print, or Braille formats. Covers topics on self-determination, rights access, accessibility, and life stories of visually impaired persons.
• Colin Maillard Magazine Donor magazine informing supporters about the needs of visually impaired persons and concrete actions achieved through donations.
• Activités culturelles et sportives (Cultural and Sports Activities) Regional centers offer sociocultural activities including museum visits, artistic activities, manual workshops, and sports (goalball, para judo, swimming, archery, climbing, nordic walking). Activities promote autonomy, confidence, social inclusion, and physical well-being.
• Programme de recherche (Research Program) Medical and scientific research funding program supporting French research centers. Since 2015, over 9 million euros allocated to vision research. Includes partnerships with FRM, Inserm/Aviesan, SFO, and SFG for research on cornea transparency, dominant optic atrophy, and clinical research prizes.
• Sensibilisation (Awareness Programs) Awareness and prevention programs targeting general public, schools/universities, and businesses. Includes immersive workshops with white cane training, simulation glasses, conferences, and screening events. In 2024: 11,739 persons sensitized including 5,000 students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,000 people with visual impairments supported annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CECIDEV (Centre d'Éducation des Chiens Guides pour l'Intégration des Déficients Visuels)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool for guide dogs supported by Unadev in the PACA region. Part of the network of 4 guide dog schools financed by Unadev. Provides guide dogs free of charge to blind and visually impaired people.
• CIE (Centre Indépendant d'Éducation de Chiens Guides d'Aveugles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool for guide dogs supported by Unadev in Île-de-France. Part of the network of 4 guide dog schools financed by Unadev. Provides guide dogs free of charge to blind and visually impaired people.
• Les 4 A (Les 4 Aigueperse)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool for guide dogs supported by Unadev in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Part of the network of 4 guide dog schools financed by Unadev. Provides guide dogs free of charge to blind and visually impaired people.
• A Vue de TruffecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool for guide dogs supported by Unadev in the Normandie region. Part of the network of 4 guide dog schools financed by Unadev. Provides guide dogs free of charge to blind and visually impaired people.
• Société Française d'Ophtalmologie (SFO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the national screening campaign with the mobile bus. Provides scientific support and endorsement for the screening initiative for blinding diseases.
• Société Française du Glaucome (SFG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the national screening campaign with the mobile bus. Collaborates on glaucoma research prizes awarded annually.
• Association France GlaucomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the national screening campaign with the mobile bus. Collaborates on patient information and glaucoma awareness.
• Conseil National Professionnel d'Ophtalmologie (CNPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the national screening campaign with the mobile bus. Professional body supporting ophthalmological screening initiatives.
• Association France GlaucomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient association for glaucoma information and support. Provides educational resources and patient support for people with glaucoma.
• Association DMLAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient association exclusively dedicated to AMD since 2003. Provides information, support, psychological help, and research funding for people with AMD.
• Bibliothèques Sonores du Nord et du Pas-de-CalaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio library partnership providing access to thousands of audio books for visually impaired people in the Hauts-de-France region.
• APIDVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for professional insertion support, collaborating on employment-related activities for visually impaired people.
• Urban RéflexionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for coaching and professional training, offering opportunities for visually impaired people in sports coaching education.
• IDELISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban transport operator in Pau Béarn Pyrénées agglomération. Partnership for accessibility improvements and inclusive transport services.
• INSPE (Institut National Supérieur du Professorat et de l'Éducation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with National Institute for Teaching and Education for accessibility training in teacher education programs.
• Comité Louis BrailleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional committee bringing together associations working for blind and visually impaired people in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Coordinates actions and advocates for collective interests.
• Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for research funding on corneal transparency and dominant optic atrophy, supporting scientific research to prevent and combat blindness.
• Inserm/AviesancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2014 with Inserm for Aviesan (national alliance for life and health sciences) bringing together major medical research organizations in vision.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): The UK's largest charity for blind and partially sighted people, offering social support, training, advocacy, and research funding. A useful international comparable for the scope, service portfolio, and donation-driven model Unadev operates in France.
• Croix-Rouge française: Major French humanitarian nonprofit offering home-help, social accompaniment, and disability services. Competes with Unadev for volunteer time, donations, and local-authority contracts for personal-assistance services to vulnerable populations.
• American Foundation for the Blind: US national nonprofit focused on research, advocacy, and services for people with vision loss. Comparable in mission and structure; useful benchmark for research grants, public-policy advocacy, and accessible-publishing activities Unadev performs.

Direct peers

• Fédération Française des Associations de Chiens Guides d'Aveugles (FFAC): National federation coordinating the French guide-dog schools Unadev funds. Direct peer on guide-dog financing, training partnerships, and advocacy for visually impaired mobility — activities in which Unadev is a major funder.
• Association Valentin Haüy: Founded in 1889, it is the oldest French association supporting blind and visually impaired people. It runs its own regional centers, training programs, accessible publishing, and home services, making it the most direct national competitor to Unadev's mission.
• Fédération des Aveugles et Amblyopes de France: National federation representing visually impaired people in France through member associations. Comparable to Unadev in advocacy, social support, and accessibility services, with overlapping beneficiary populations and partnerships with MDPH and public authorities.

Emerging players

• Association DMLA: Patient association dedicated to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) since 2003. Comparable in patient-information, psychological support, and research funding activities, and a Unadev partner for screening and awareness campaigns.
• Association France Glaucome: Patient association exclusively dedicated to glaucoma. Although narrower in scope than Unadev, it is a direct program partner and a competing voice in glaucoma awareness and screening advocacy.

Regional players

• Lighthouse Guild: US-based nonprofit providing vision-loss rehabilitation, training, and research. Comparable service mix (training, home autonomy, research) but operates in the United States rather than France; useful benchmark for program design and impact metrics.

Others

• Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM): Major French medical research foundation and a Unadev partner. Comparable in grantmaking structure, donor engagement, and the €9M+ research funding program Unadev runs in partnership with Inserm/Aviesan.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unadev_france
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WebtvUNADEV
• Facebookfacebook.com/unadevfrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unadev
• Instagraminstagram.com/unadev_france

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Unadev - Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients Visuels