[The handicapped and non-handicapped in a leisure time group]

The "Moegeldorfer Group", an initiative group integrating disabled and non-disabled persons, had been studied using qualitative interviewing techniques. The following motives and effects of group involvement have been found: Predominant among the disabled members had been the recreational opportunities offered by the group, along with the possibility of coming to know people who could help them outside group activities as well. Getting acquainted with disabled persons had been in the foreground among the non-disabled members. Their major problem, apart from rendering assistance, had been to become aware of, and learn to cope with, disability-related communication barriers. The voluntary encounter of disabled and non-disabled people is considered a positive first step towards changing the relationship between disabled and non-disabled persons as it exists in our society.