[Adjustment to occupational reorienting within the scope of preparatory rehabilitation measures]

A phase II facility in the meaning of the federal government's action programme for the advancement of rehabilitation of disabled persons, the Ulm rehabilitation hospital offers a full therapy chain from acute treatment through to vocational rehabilitation measures. The range of services provided by the "vocational rehabilitation" department are oriented on the rehabilitees' individual potential, and are supported by a multitude of follow-along medical-therapeutic services. Experience over several years has lead to the conclusion that, obviously, comprehension and integration of the learning contents presented are not contingent on the individual's physical and intellectual capacities alone. A central determining factor for successful programme participation seems to be the personal coping strategy, closely linked with the rehabilitees' fundamental convictions and character. An attitude that attributes success to personal achievement can be contrasted with an attitude that views personal performance as being dependent on inapproachable outside influences, and an underlying optimistic attitude was found to correlate with successful outcome.