[Shaping the future of vocational rehabilitation of adults: eight fields of action as starting points for a cross-actor innovation process]. / Die Zukunft der beruflichen Rehabilitation Erwachsener gestalten: Acht Handlungsfelder als Ausgangspunkt für einen akteursübergreifenden Innovationsprozess.

Established by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) in October 2007, the Scientific Expert Group RehaFutur had been commissioned to elaborate cornerstones for the medium- and long-term development of vocational rehabilitation of adults with disabilities (re-integration). Initial questions inter alia were as follows: Which function should vocational rehabilitation have in a service- and knowledge-oriented working world that will increasingly be affected by demographic change? How can disabled persons' right to occupational participation by way of vocational rehabilitation, a right stipulated both under the German constitution and in German law, be realized as needed also in the future? Various fields of action have been derived on the basis, for one, of an investigation of the factors, social law, social and education policy as well as European, influencing vocational rehabilitation and, for the other, of an evaluation of current labour market and demographic developments. Dealt with in the fields of action outlined are the aspects: equitable opportunities of access, developmental and needs orientation, closeness to the real occupational and working world, as well as the role of self-determination and self-responsibility. The fields of action are to be understood as framework concept for shaping a cross-actor innovation process. Sustainable vocational rehabilitation is characterized in particular by the fact that it is specifically targeted at promoting disabled persons' self-determination and self-responsibility actively using these in the process and that it strengthens an independent lifestyle, ensures social participation by inclusive structures; also, it facilitates continued participation in working life by ongoing education involving holistic development of professional and personal competencies oriented towards the individual's resources and potentials, safeguarding it by systematic networking with companies. The concept presented for vocational rehabilitation of adults with disabilities encompasses a change of paradigms which service carriers and providers will have to face jointly and including the service users, the rehabilitants.

[The future of vocational rehabilitation--vocational rehabilitation for the future. An explanation with the federal government's austerity measures]. / Zukunft der beruflichen Rehabilitation--Berufliche Rehabilitation für die Zukunft. Eine Auseinandersetzung mit den Sparmassnahmen der Bundesregierung.

Under the law on enhancing growth and employment (Wachstums- und Beschäftigungsförderungsgesetz-WFG), the legal entitlement to vocational rehabilitation hitherto stipulated in the employment promotion act (Arbeitsförderungsgesetz-AFG), has been restricted to a narrowly defined population; and pension insurance scheme spending in the entire rehabilitation field been "capped" to the 1993 level minus some 600 million DM. Moreover, the transitional allowance applicable for pension insurance rehabilitees will be lowered. In addition, economies amounting to some 500 million DM have been imposed on the federal employment service Bundesanstalt für Arbeit. These measures are placing persons with disability at a disadvantage, accept exclusion of entire groups of disabled persons, and endanger the very existence of numerous rehabilitation facilities previously established with significant amounts of public funding. A blind eye is being turned on the high level of demand for qualification measures, on the overall economic benefits of rehabilitation measures, and on the fact that measures of this kind are disabled persons' only chance to hold their own in the face of labour market competitiveness. Also, poor awareness seems to exist of the fact that, in the longer run, meaningful contributions to greater economy will more likely be generated by structural adjustment, increased effectiveness, and greater flexibility. The future of vocational rehabilitation is being placed at risk--notwithstanding that vocational rehabilitation for the future is imperative.

[More than 25 years of successful occupational rehabilitation of handicapped patients]. / Uber 25 Jahre erfolgreiche berufliche Wiedereingliederung von Behinderten.

Over the past 25 years, the German Berufsförderungswerke (vocational retraining centres) have successfully retrained more than 122,000 disabled individuals. Even in economically difficult times, over 80% of the former rehabilitees have succeeded in securing lasting gainful employment, with good to very good opportunities also for those with additional disadvantage. The vast majority of the retrainees have found training-related and disability-adapted employment, and a great portion have been able to improve their occupational position. These facts provide convincing evidence of the successful work of the vocational retraining centres. Investment in rehabilitation, hence, is economically meaningful and profitable.

[Occupational rehabilitation yesterday, today and tomorrow as exemplified by the vocational retraining centers]. / Berufliche Rehabilitation gestern, heute und morgen am Beispiel der Berufsförderungswerke.

Developed in the 1960s, the concept for vocational rehabilitation in the vocational retraining centres has proven its worth also in the face of the great challenges of the 80s. Not all of the partly profound changes which have taken place in the environs of vocational rehabilitation over the last few years had been positive ones. Before this background, it must therefore be asked how the standard attained by the vocational retraining centres is to be viewed and which route the vocational rehabilitation field is going to take in the 90s. The process of societal and technological change over recent years is likely to further accelerate in the 90s, with numerous implications for vocational education and disability policies. Even more so than in the past, this process will require adjustments to be made, but equally give rise to innovative efforts and developments. The demands to be faced by the facilities are therefore going to increase, and major re-structuring processes will have to take place also in the vocational retraining centres.