[Attitudes of gainfully employed persons towards the vocational and social integration of the physically disabled (author's transl)].

Within the framework of a representative survey 1879 gainfully employed persons - trainees, workers, employees and supervisors - were asked about their attitudes towards the vocational and social integration of the physically disabled. The article describes the following results: 1) The majority of those who responded, particularly workers in subordinate positions, were of the opinion that firms, management and co-workers were rather unwilling to accept the physically disabled as competitive and equal employees and colleagues. 2) With regard to their personal attitudes there was a striking contrast: a high general support of the vocational resettlement on the one hand and a considerable resistance against the disabled's complete vocational and social integration on the other. 3) The degree of social distance was strongly dependent on the social situation and the type of the disability. 4) The rejection of the physically disabled seems to be mainly influenced by the following determinant psychological factors: a) the assumption that they are to blame for their disabilities b) the negative image of the disabled's personality traits, vocational performance abilities and their occupational behaviour.