Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung

What Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung does

The Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung (SPV) is a Swiss non-profit association and the national umbrella organization for people with spinal cord injuries (paraplegia or tetraplegia), headquartered in Nottwil with field offices in Biel/Bienne (legal advice) and Muhen (barrier-free construction consulting). Founded in 1975, it serves over 8,300 members through 26 regional wheelchair clubs and delivers a comprehensive service portfolio spanning free social and peer counseling, legal advice on social insurance and liability law, barrier-free construction consulting, parenting support for people with disabilities (Paraeltern), accessible travel and leisure programs (ParaReisen, Freizeit), and a full sports division (Rollstuhlsport Schweiz) covering recreational sports, elite athletics, coaching, and major events such as ParAthletics, Giro Suisse, and Weltklasse am See.

SPV is embedded in the broader Swiss Paraplegics Group (GSP), which includes the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation (its primary funder, contributing CHF 9.4 million annually in 2025), the Swiss Paraplegic Centre (1,445 staff, 204 beds), Swiss Paraplegic Research, and partner organizations such as Orthotec, ParaHelp, and SIRMED. The organization operates digital platforms including the Ginto accessibility-information application (developed with the Sitios association), an online community platform (community.paraplegie.ch) for peer exchange, and the Paramap web application for accessible travel information. It is led by President Olga Manfredi and Director Laurent Prince, with approximately 90 permanent employees, 240 freelancers, and 1,300 volunteers supporting operations and the 350+ annual events.

The business model is membership-based and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating: members join through wheelchair clubs and receive free counseling and reduced-cost services, while the Foundation grant underwrites operations and donations are tax-deductible. Revenue streams include membership dues, donations, event and training revenue (ParAthletics, Giro Suisse, Weltklasse am See), travel program income, and member benefits (Eurokey, fleet discounts). The SPV also serves as the sports federation for Swiss wheelchair athletes, co-founds Swiss Paralympic (with PluSport) and holds the rotating presidency, represents Switzerland in the European Spinal Cord Injury Federation (ESCIF) via its general secretariat, and drives national disability-rights advocacy through Inclusion Handicap and the Inklusions-Initiative.

Name

Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung

Legal name

Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung SPV

Website

https://www.spv.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung is a Swiss non-profit umbrella organization serving 8,300+ members with spinal cord injuries through free counseling, sports, travel, and advocacy services delivered via 26 regional wheelchair clubs and embedded in the Swiss Paraplegics Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Spectator Sports (71121), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Para sports federation
• Spinal cord injury support
• Barrier-free construction consulting
• Accessible travel services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottwil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Event and Training Revenue: Revenue from organizing major sporting events (ParAthletics, Giro Suisse, Weltklasse am See), training courses, and sports education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung (SPV) is a national non-profit umbrella association serving over 8,300 members with spinal cord injuries across Switzerland. It provides free social and peer counseling, legal advice, barrier-free construction consulting, para sports programs from grassroots to elite Paralympic level, accessible travel services, and political advocacy. Services are delivered through headquarters in Nottwil, 26 regional wheelchair clubs, and field offices in Biel/Bienne and Muhen.

Product overview

The Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung (SPV) is a national umbrella organization for paraplegics (people with spinal cord injuries) offering a comprehensive service portfolio centered on counseling, sports, and leisure activities. The core offerings include Sozial- und Peerberatung (social and peer counseling), Rechtsberatung (legal counseling), and Bauberatung (construction consulting) as free services for members, complemented by Paraeltern support for parenting. The sports division encompasses Rollstuhlsport Schweiz with Breitensport (recreational sports), Leistungssport (elite sports including Paralympic athletes), and major event organization (ParAthletics, Giro Suisse, Weltklasse am See). Travel services under ParaReisen and leisure activities provide vacation and recreation options, while membership benefits include Eurokey accessibility keys, fleet discounts, and wheelchair stickers. The organization publishes Paracontact magazine and annual reports, with digital services including the Ginto accessibility app. SPV operates as a membership organization serving over 8,300 members through 26 wheelchair clubs across Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Social and Peer Counseling (Sozial- und Peerberatung)
• Legal Counseling (Rechtsberatung)
• Barrier-Free Construction Consulting (Bauberatung)
• Para Parents (Paraeltern)
• Swiss Wheelchair Sports (Rollstuhlsport Schweiz)
• Para Vacations (ParaReisen)
• Leisure Activities (Freizeitangebote)
• Major Para Sports Events (Grossevents)
• Membership (Mitgliedschaft)
• Ginto Accessibility App

Quantifiable outcome

• CHF 9.4 million in foundation support enables free services for 8,300+ members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Inclusion HandicapcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SPV works with other disability organizations to influence political processes. SPV President Olga Manfredi sits on the Inclusion Handicap committee to advocate for disability rights.
• Schweizer Paraplegiker-Stiftung (Swiss Paraplegic Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation is the parent organization providing the primary operating funding of CHF 9.4 million annually. It also supports members with auxiliary equipment, orthotics, installations, renovations, and care costs. Created in 1975 by Guido A. Zäch, it manages the Swiss Paraplegic Group network.
• Swiss ParalympiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder with PluSport, SPV holds the rotating presidency every two years. Swiss Paralympic is the national paralympic committee. SPV Director Laurent Prince serves as President.
• Swiss OlympiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPV is a member of Swiss Olympic and receives sports promotion subsidies through the Swiss sports funding system.
• Centre Suisse pour Paraplégiques (CSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil is an internationally renowned private clinic specializing in spinal cord injuries, back conditions, and respiratory rehabilitation. Founded 1990 by Guido A. Zäch, it employs 1,445 people with 204 beds.
• Recherche Suisse pour Paraplégiques (Swiss Paraplegic Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest extra-university research institutions in functional capacity research and rehabilitation worldwide, bringing together medicine, biology, epidemiology, communication sciences, economics, psychology, nursing, physiotherapy, sociology, law, statistics, and political science.
• HollisterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization providing products and support for people with spinal cord injuries.
• Just for SmilesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in the Swiss Paraplegic Group network.
• Suva (Swiss Accident Insurance)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss Accident Insurance institution partnership for rehabilitation and accident prevention.
• SwisslosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss lottery funds supporting sports and charitable causes including para sports.
• ESCIF (European Spinal Cord Injury Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPV represents Switzerland in ESCIF and holds the general secretariat. ESCIF is a European association of spinal cord injury organizations.
• Schweiz ohne Hindernisse (Switzerland Without Barriers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPV is a member supporting the OK:GO initiative to ensure all Swiss tourism providers publish accessibility information.
• IG Private SportanlagenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPV defends interests of GSP sports facilities on the Nottwil campus within the community of interest for private sports facilities in Canton Lucerne. IG Sport Luzern quality label obtained.
• OrthotecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuxiliary means and services for people with spinal cord injuries or similar disabilities.
• ParaHelpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare and advice for people with spinal cord injuries.
• SIRMED (Swiss Institute for Emergency Medicine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBest possible care for patients in emergency situations.
• FSCMA (Swiss Federation for Aid Equipment Consulting)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPV represented on the committee of the Swiss Federation for consulting on aid equipment for disabled and elderly persons.
• REHAB BaselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighly specialized clinic in neurological rehabilitation and paraplegia in Basel.
• Balgrist University ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParaplegiology center at the university clinic guarantees comprehensive care for people with spinal cord injuries from acute treatment to long-term rehabilitation.
• Clinique Romande de Réadaptation (Sion)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe paraplegia and tetraplegia department at the Suva rehabilitation clinic in Sion is the only rehabilitation center for spinal cord injured patients in French-speaking Switzerland.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PluSport Behindertensport Schweiz: PluSport is the other co-founder of Swiss Paralympic alongside SPV and is the leading Swiss organization for disability sport outside of wheelchair-specific activities. Both organizations serve Swiss para-athletes, share Swiss Paralympic governance, and compete for the same pool of disabled athletes, members, and Swiss Olympic funding.
• Swiss Paralympic: Swiss Paralympic is the national Paralympic committee of Switzerland and a strategic partner of SPV, which holds a rotating presidency. It serves the same para-athlete population, manages Paralympic selection and funding, and shares governance with SPV.
• Inclusion Handicap: Inclusion Handicap is the Swiss umbrella organization of disability associations and SPV's partner in political advocacy. Both organizations operate in the same Swiss disability services and advocacy space, share members, and collaborate on legislative initiatives like the Inklusions-Initiative.
• Special Olympics Switzerland: Special Olympics Switzerland organizes training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities, paralleling SPV's role for people with physical disabilities. Both are Swiss member-based disability sport organizations competing for athlete participation, sponsorships, and public funding.
• Move United: Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA) is a US national disability sports organization providing community-based adaptive sports programming, mirroring SPV's Rollstuhlsport Schweiz division. Both operate community-led adaptive sports federations with similar service portfolios including Paralympic pipeline development.
• Wheelchair & Ambulatory Sports USA: Wheelchair & Ambulatory Sports USA is a US national wheelchair sports organization comparable to SPV's Rollstuhlsport Schweiz, serving athletes across recreational to elite levels. Both run event-driven adaptive sports programs with national federation status.
• Challenged Athletes Foundation: Challenged Athletes Foundation provides grants, equipment, and programming for adaptive athletes, closely mirroring SPV's Rollstuhlsport Schweiz and elite athlete support programs. Both organizations fund adaptive sports participation from grassroots to elite competition.
• Back Up Trust (UK): Back Up is a UK charity serving people affected by spinal cord injury with peer mentoring, wheelchair skills training, and accessible activities. It is a direct international peer of SPV in mission, services, and target population, operating as a smaller-scale equivalent outside Switzerland.

Broad incumbents

• Pro Infirmis: Pro Infirmis is the largest Swiss disability advocacy and service organization, providing counseling, housing support, and assistance across all disability types. It overlaps with SPV's social/peer counseling and legal advice services but serves a broader disability population.
• European Spinal Cord Injury Federation (ESCIF): ESCIF is the European umbrella of spinal cord injury organizations where SPV holds the general secretariat. While broader in geographic scope, ESCIF addresses the same spinal cord injury community and shares advocacy, research, and peer support objectives with SPV.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/paraplegikervereinigung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schweizer-paraplegiker-vereinigung
• Instagraminstagram.com/paraplegikervereinigung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Schweizer Paraplegiker-Vereinigung