ABSTRACT

In Germany, the title of this conference Transforming Disability into Ability has been a major political and legal goal for decades. The guiding principles of rehabilitation and participation policy in Germany are participation of disabled persons in society, intervention at the earliest possible stage of disability and provision of individual assistance, tailored to the actual needs, irrespective of the cause of the disability. In an open labour market, the central responsibility for getting and keeping disabled and non-disabled workers in employment rests with the employers. Regarding labour force participation of persons with disabilities, Germany applies a concept of shared responsibility. The responsibility of government in this area is to lend "moral" support to employers to help them fulfil their role and provide a collectively financed public benefit for the financing of extraordinary burdens arising out of the employment of persons with disabilities.