[Familial and environmental status of congenital and early childhood-acquired visual impairment as an indicator for social rehabilitation].

Presented are the rehabilitation outcomes of 134 former students of a special school for the visual impaired in terms of their familial situation and in environmental respects. In the presence of an otherwise satisfactory picture, development of an independent lifestyle seems to be hampered in one third of the interviewees by lack of an apartment of their own. Those concerned are single and live with their parents or in a residential setting, lacking the possibility for setting up house on their own notwithstanding favourable financial and occupational conditions (96% are working). Both insufficient support and a lack of personal initiative and self-assertion are considered contributive factors in these outcomes.