[The beginnings of care for cripples in Lower Franconia and its development into the modern rehabilitation of the physically handicapped].

On the example of Lower Franconia, a predominantly rural region which has maintained its boundaries in both world wars, the author describes the historical development of services for disabled persons since the beginning of this century. Jakob Riedinger may justly be termed the father of cripple care in Lower Franconia, having initiated the establishment, in 1910, of the first vocational rehabilitation facility for physically disabled people in Würzburg. Starting out from the provision of vocational services, further developments in particular after the 2nd world war entailed a growing recognition of the psychosocial situation of disabled persons as the basis of rehabilitative action. Several facilities have hence been established for providing holistic, early services for the physically disabled, where educators, physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists, social workers and psychologists are involved, along with the orthopaedic doctor, in the care of physically disabled children and youths.