SAIL Disability Network of the UP

What SAIL Disability Network of the UP does

SAIL Disability Network of the UP, legally Superior Alliance for Independent Living, is a Michigan-based 501(c)-style nonprofit that delivers independent living services to individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities across all 15 counties of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The organization is headquartered in Marquette, MI, and runs a portfolio of core programs including an Accessibility Program, an Assistive Technology matching service (wheelchairs, memory aids, adaptive computer software), Employment Assistance, Health & Wellness, Housing & Community Living Support, Transition Support for youth, Transportation Resources, Voter Information & Support, Social Security benefits planning, Peer Support, and Independent Living Skills Training. Distinctive sub-programs include the SPAR (Single Point for Activities and Recreation) adaptive recreation initiative, the U.P. Sled Cats sled hockey program with a Paralympic pipeline, U.P. Vets SERVED for veterans and military families, and the One in Four awareness campaign.

The organization's technology layer is human-delivered service coordination plus assistive technology matching and adaptive recreation equipment; there is no proprietary software platform. Service delivery is omnichannel, combining in-person intake at the Marquette office, mobile SPAR staff travel across the UP, and Zoom-enabled virtual support groups, supported by a YouTube-hosted success-story video library and a curated resource directory of local transportation, mental health, legal, and healthcare providers.

SAIL provides all services free of charge to consumers regardless of financial status, operating a freemium model on the consumer side. Revenue is generated entirely from the supply side through government contracts and grants for independent living services, plus individual and corporate donations from a published donor network (UPPCO, Honor Credit Union, Closner Construction, First Bank, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Argonics, Emmendorfer Financial Services, and individual donors). The organization is led by Executive Director Julie Shaw (since January 2022) and a Board of Directors, and employs approximately 20 staff, the majority Northern Michigan University-educated and rooted in the UP community.

Name

SAIL Disability Network of the UP

Legal name

Superior Alliance for Independent Living

Website

https://upsail.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAIL Disability Network of the UP is a Marquette, Michigan-based nonprofit that provides free independent living services, assistive technology, adaptive recreation, and advocacy to individuals with disabilities across all 15 counties of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability & Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Independent living
• Assistive technology
• Adaptive recreation
• Disability advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Marquette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Service Contracts and Grants: Funding from contracts with government agencies and organizations to provide independent living services, disability advocacy, and accessibility programs to UP residents.
2. Donations and Community Support: Individual and corporate donations from community donors, including listed donors like Isabel Francis, Kevin Schuldt, and organizations such as Argonics Inc and Emmendorfer Financial Services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAIL Disability Network of the UP is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living that provides a comprehensive suite of free disability services to individuals across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Core offerings include an Accessibility Program, Assistive Technology matching (wheelchairs, memory aids, adaptive software), Employment Assistance, Health & Wellness programming, Housing & Community Living Support, Transition Support for youth, Transportation Resources, Voter Information, Social Security Benefits Planning, and Peer Support, supplemented by specialty programs like the SPAR adaptive recreation initiative, U.P. Vets SERVED for veterans, and the U.P. Sled Cats sled hockey program.

Product overview

SAIL Disability Network of the UP (Superior Alliance for Independent Living) operates as a disability services organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services for individuals living with disabilities across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The organization provides core services including an Accessibility Program focused on creating barrier-free environments, an Assistive Technology Program that matches individuals with devices like wheelchairs and adaptive equipment, Employment Assistance, Health & Wellness programming, Housing Support, Transition Services, Transportation Resources, and Voter Information support. The SPAR (Single Point for Activities and Recreation) Program serves as a flagship health and wellness initiative offering adaptive recreational activities including biking, hiking, fishing, cooking classes, and social events. Additional specialty programs include U.P. Vets SERVED for veterans, Sled Hockey U.P. Sled Cats for adaptive sports, and the One in Four awareness campaign. Services are delivered through trained advocates and include peer support, independent living skills training, and information/referral services, all provided at no charge regardless of financial status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPAR Program: Single Point for Activities and Recreation - a health and wellness program for people of all abilities providing support in increasing independent living skills.
• UP Sled Hockey / Sled Cats
• U.P. Vets SERVED
• One in Four

Products and services

• Accessibility Program Program that works with state and federal agencies and other entities to create barrier-free physical environments and services throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, serving individuals with disabilities.
• Assistive Technology Program Matches individuals with assistive devices such as wheelchairs, memory aids, or computer software to increase independence in daily living at home, the workplace, or in the community.
• Social Security Assistance Benefits planning assistance to help individuals with disabilities navigate Social Security programs.
• Employment Assistance Services supporting individuals with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment.
• Health & Wellness Program Program focused on physical health, mental wellness, and serving others through various wellness activities for individuals with disabilities.
• Housing & Community Living Support Assistance with housing needs and community integration for individuals with disabilities.
• Transition Support Supports youth by improving workplace skills and transitioning to independent living.
• Transportation Resources Resources and assistance with transportation needs for individuals with disabilities.
• Voter Information & Support Assistance helping individuals with disabilities exercise their voting rights.
• SPAR Program (Single Point for Activities and Recreation) Health and wellness program providing support in increasing independent living skills through recreational activities including adaptive biking, hiking, fishing, cooking classes, and social events for people of all abilities.
• U.P. Vets SERVED Program developed for veterans of every ability and military families, focusing on creating opportunities for socialization in a supportive environment.
• Sled Hockey U.P. Sled Cats Sled hockey program providing recreation opportunities for individuals with various disabilities, from local recreation through the National Sled Team that participates in the Paralympics.
• Peer Support Services Peer support connecting individuals with disabilities to share experiences and provide mutual support.
• Independent Living Skills Training Training programs to help individuals develop skills for independent daily living.
• Information and Referral Services Providing information and referrals to connect individuals with appropriate resources and services.

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• UPPCO (Upper Peninsula Power Company)minorOthersCorporate sponsor/donor supporting SAIL's mission to serve individuals with disabilities in the UP.
• Honor Credit UnionminorOthersCorporate sponsor/donor supporting SAIL's disability services mission.
• Closner ConstructionminorOthersCorporate sponsor/donor supporting SAIL's programs.
• First BankminorOthersCorporate sponsor/donor supporting SAIL's mission.
• Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP)minorOthersCorporate sponsor/donor supporting SAIL's disability services.
• Barrier Free StoreminorOthersPartner organization providing accessibility solutions, listed as a community partner.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating employment-focused programs for people with disabilities and other barriers — directly comparable on Employment Assistance and vocational rehabilitation services, with much broader geographic scale.
• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability and veterans services including employment, accessibility, and assistive technology — comparable service lines, though at much greater scale and with broader geographic reach than SAIL.
• United Cerebral Palsy: National disability services organization offering assistive technology, employment, housing, and recreation programming through affiliates — broader portfolio and national scale, but overlapping service mix with SAIL.

Others

• National Council on Independent Living: National membership association for Centers for Independent Living — not a direct competitor, but the federal CIL network umbrella body whose funding and advocacy directly shape the operating environment for organizations like SAIL.

Direct peers

• Disability Rights Michigan: Michigan's federally designated Protection & Advocacy organization serving individuals with disabilities statewide — directly comparable mission and Michigan geographic focus, though more advocacy- than service-oriented.
• The Arc Michigan: Michigan chapter of The Arc, providing disability advocacy, employment support, and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — overlapping service lines and population with SAIL.
• Disability Network of Michigan: Statewide network of Centers for Independent Living across Michigan offering the same combination of independent living services, advocacy, and assistive technology support as SAIL — directly comparable mission, services, and funding model.
• Move United: National adaptive sports organization (formerly Disabled Sports USA) supporting community-based adaptive recreation programs like SAIL's SPAR and Sled Hockey — directly comparable in the adaptive recreation and competitive adaptive sports niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz_placeholder
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/superior-alliance-for-independent-living

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 SAIL Disability Network of the UP