The integration of employees with disabilities in Germany and the importance of workplace design

This paper reviews the occupational integration of employees with disabilities in Germany. A short sketch of historical trends is followed by a presentation of the current tasks and goals of rehabilitation, as well as the legal and institutional framing conditions for the integration and reintegration of people with disabilities into the work process. It is shown that one important guarantee for the success of integration is an ergonomic workplace design that takes the needs of employees with disabilities into account.