[The handicapped, no future?].

Over a period of 17 years, 455 disabled individuals in all have moved out of the Senator-Neumann-Heim, a residential and rehabilitation facility for persons with severe physical disablement. Of these, 151 had participated in educational and/or vocational rehabilitation measures. 33 of the current 136 residents participate in educational programmes, another 34 are settled in gainful employment. A detailed description of the various types of schooling, as well as of preparatory services and incidence of university studies, serve to illustrate the potential held by effective, individualized preparation for vocational integration. The essential factor for settlement in gainful activity had invariably been sound, requirements-oriented, successfully completed vocational training, either in a vocational training center, or in the dual system of industrial training and professional school. Issues relative to daily working hours, psychosocial follow-up, residential possibilities, partnerships, are discussed.