Our origin
A brave beginning
In 2005, founder Jonas Staub pioneered the inclusion approach at Blindspot. At that time, there were no comparable, broad-based projects happening in Switzerland. The project started without money, a business plan or a network, but with a lot of passion and motivation from numerous people and Jonas Staub. Right from the start, the work was shaped by the concept of inclusion, the conviction that the needs of people with and without disabilities are the same and that they can learn from each other, leading to immense joy.
True to the motto "Making the impossible possible", Blindspot organised its first inclusion project: a winter camp for young people with and without disabilities. It became a success and the camp enabled young people with a disability to share their passions and make friends with people without disability. The camp created an opportunity where people with a disability were able to pursue a leisure activity on their own.
The popularity of Blindspot's winter activities continues to this day. In 2016, a children's camp was added to our project portfolio to start the inclusion process as early as possible.
Growing with partners
In 2007, the cooperation with the Laureus Foundation Switzerland marked a milestone in the financing and professionalisation of Blindspot's work. Among other things, the cooperation resultet in the school sports project Laureus Metro Sports by Blindspot, which since has been carried out in various German-speaking cities in Switzerland in cooperation with regular and special schools.
Cooltour: A Jackpot
In 2009, Blindspot launched the Cooltour summer project in cooperation with national and regional partners from the youth, cultural, health and social sectors. For eight days, children and teenagers with and without disabilities spend an eventful time together. They attend courses from spray painting, street dance to martial arts realising that people with and without disabilities have more in common than that which divides us.
In 2016, Cooltour was awarded the „PrixPrintemps“ and received the audience award at the ceremony. Three qualitative studies by the Lucerne School of Social Work (HSLU) were also able to show that Cooltour participation has positive long-term effects on social and personal skills, tolerance and self-determination.
Big steps forward
Blindspot grew from a small association to an operating nation-wide, non-profit professional organisation. Continuously expanded our inclusion projects in the areas of leisure, education and labour market, as well as developing our consultations and networking activities. In 2014, Switzerland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which captures the principles that Blindspot has pursued from the beginning.
In 2016, Blindspot opened the holistic work inclusion project Provisorium46 in the popular Länggasse district of Bern, a gastronomic and cultural business for young people with and without disabilities. The Lions Club Bern honoured the innovative approach to the project with the Prix Lions. The publicity of Provisorium46 also helps raise awareness to the topic of inclusion.
In 2018, Blindspot founder Jonas Staub was named an Ashoka-Fellow a movement that networks and supports social entrepreneurs worldwide. In the same year, Blindspot received the Swiss Diversity Award in the "Public" category.
National and international expansion
In 2020, Blindspot opened Fabrique28, a second inclusive gastronomy business, where people with and without disabilities prepare tasty lunch menus in Bern’s Monbijou district. Under the labour-inclusion project 'Labor Inklusion', further inclusive gastronomy businesses are also being planned nationally and internationally.
The positive reactions to the commitment, the way of working and the projects strengthen Blindspot in its vision of an inclusive, diverse society.