[School--and then what? On the occupational integration of severely handicapped adolescents--attempt at defining the current status].

The life situation of young people faced with severe consequences of their physical disablement is deteriorating due to general economic and worklife developments. Their right to occupational qualification is by no means universally honoured, and even those who have undergone vocational training find it increasingly hard to secure a job. This contribution therefore considers overall societal and economic conditions as well as trends forecast, discussing traditional and current views of successful life coping with or without remunerative work. Particular interest is taken in how disabled people themselves see their position in the working society. Problems of transition from school to post-school life settings are pointed out.