Procap
Procap is the largest self-help organization for people with disabilities in Switzerland .
founding
The association, based in Olten and Biel (Siège romand), was founded in 1930 as the Swiss Disabled Association (SIV). The establishment of the association was the work of Henri Pavid (1893–1949). After emigrating to Paris, he worked as an office worker in a large transport company. After losing a leg in an accident, he returned to Olten in Switzerland at the age of 29.
In 1930 there was no disability insurance in Switzerland . There was some kind of social assistance , but it was not institutionalized. Anyone who was in an emergency could apply for help. The scope of this help varied widely and basically depended on the discretion of the clerk. The demand for a state disability insurance that guaranteed people with a disability a minimum income was one of the main reasons why Henri Pavid founded the SIV section Olten in May 1930 and the Swiss Disabled Association on October 27, 1930. When it was founded, Pavid was based on the French Association of Invalids, which had arisen in France during the First World War .
Key data of the association's history
The main source of income for the association until 1960 was the sale of the Swiss disabled calendar. 9,000 copies were sold as early as 1931, and 25,000 copies were sold in 1932. The calendar was no longer published during the war, but in 1945 the Graubünden section initiated a relaunch. From 1960 the sales figures decrease year after year. The calendar was finally discontinued in 1993.
In 1954 the Siège Romand was founded due to disagreements between the La Chaux-de-Fonds section and the Central Secretariat. In 1955, the delegates' assembly in Baden gave the French-speaking countries a great deal of autonomy.
On January 1, 1960, the long-awaited disability insurance finally came into effect. Also in 1960, the sports group association of the Swiss Invalids Association (today's name: Procap Sport) was founded.
On January 1, 1962, the first workshop for the disabled opens in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
1995 is the founding year of Nautius, the travel agency for people with disabilities (today's name: Procap Reisen).
In 2002 the Swiss Disabled Association decided to change its name. Reason: The word "invalid" discriminates against the members; broken down into its components, "in-valid" in German simply means "worthless". From now on the association is called "Procap - for people with handicaps".
Services
Procap's services include legal and social security advice, advice on barrier-free construction, arranging wheelchair-accessible living space, holiday and sports offers for people with disabilities, as well as courses in all aspects of self-help. In addition, Procap opens up access to cultural and social events and carries out awareness-raising work at schools and in companies.
Social policy
As the largest self-help organization for people with disabilities in Switzerland, Procap is also involved in politics. Procap is particularly committed to a safe and strong IV. Procap is also fighting for improvements in barrier-free construction, mobility, in all social issues and especially in the world of work. The integration of disabled people in the world of work is a central concern of Procap.
Association structures
There are around 40 regional sections with over 21,000 members throughout Switzerland. A total of around 1,200 volunteers are involved in the regional sections. The majority of them live with a disability themselves.
Finances
The annual budget of the central secretariat is around 10 million francs. As a non-profit association, Procap Switzerland relies on financial support and donations. Around 100,000 donors regularly support the organization.
Association body
The first attempt by a regularly appearing body of the association failed at the beginning of the 1930s. The Schweizerische Invaliden-Zeitung, founded in 1931, was discontinued in 1934 and only relaunched in 1944. The newspaper appears every three months until 1960 and every other month from 1961. With the exception of the years 1961–1991, the newspaper appears in several languages until 2010. The organ of the association has been called “Procap” since 2002, and from 2003 it appears as a magazine. From summer 2010 the Procap magazine will appear four times a year in two separate language editions.