[Problems and conditions in industrial integration of the handicapped]

A sub-project of the research investigation "Model Workplaces for Disabled Persons in Sheltered Workshops in Berlin (West)", the pilot project "Placement Models and Industrial Workplaces", which was funded jointly by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology and the senator for Labour and Social Affairs of the Land Berlin, undertook to investigate more fully into the issue of opportunities for, and obstacles to industrial placement of disabled persons, in particular of sheltered workshop clients, by studying the situation present in selected enterprises, and to elaborate, on the basis of empirical stock-taking of the problems found, proposals for measures directed at improving the conditions for integrating disabled persons in open employment. Apart from analyzing workplaces as to their suitability for sheltered workshop clients, the project included expert talks involving staff from various functional departments of several Berlin enterprises on problems and general conditions in the industrial integration of disabled persons. The present contribution reports some of the main findings of these expert talks, and is intended to examine more closely some central issues in industrial placement of disabled persons. In particular, it deals with - the current state of, and the basic organizational conditions for industrial integration of disabled workers, - the attitudes of employers toward recruiting disabled persons. On this basis, approaches are outlined for improving the employment situation of the population concerned, as well as their prospects of (re)settlement.