[Early stimulation of the handicapped and potentially handicapped children--breakthrough of a concept].

The author describes the importance and value of early stimulation within the overall concept of working with handicapped persons. A brief definition and scientific arguments are given. Data on the historical development of this relatively recent field are given considerable space, as are details on concepts and organisation. Problems and weak points of the system are pointed out. From the aspect of the fact that the family is the centre of child activities, it is important to make it quite clear that early stimulation of rehabilitation must be an interdisciplinary, "open" and holistic "assistance" system for parents and families as a whole. A point worth considering is whether the system, which had so far been restricted mainly to children with handicaps in somatic field, can also be extended to cover children whose handicaps are mainly caused by psychosocial factors.