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Career Guidance in the Life Course – Structures and Services in Germany
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4. Guidance for special target specialized institutions which are financed by the FEA.
groups They also receive guidance on their course and career
choices as well as career orientation from counsellors of
Guidance needs often depend on individuals’ particular the special Rehabilitation Team in the EA. Individual coach-
characteristics and situations: parents with young children ing throughout the training is delivered by guidance prac-
or people returning to work, youth at risk, disadvantaged titioners and by the social, psychological and medical ser-
people, people with disabilities, senior citizens, people with vices of the special training centres.
a migrant background, highly skilled people etc. A variety
of guidance services which are often carried out by pub- The local EAs offer vocational and career guidance for
lic or non-profit organizations funded by Federal or Länder both young and adult people with disabilities in a separate
ministries, municipalities or by the EA, cater for these guid- specialised service called the Rehabilitation Team. In
ance needs. The following sections only present the most order to provide easy access for persons with handicaps,
important services. they also provide services within special schools and reha-
bilitation centres.
4.1 Guidance for people with disabilities
In addition, in some cases the Health Insurance, Pen-
Germany is committed to actively supporting the United sion Insurance and the Accident Insurance are respon-
Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabili- sible for vocational rehabilitation and offer guidance ser-
ties through appropriate measures. Guidance plays a ma- vices to people with disabilities.
jor role in the implementation of these rights.
In HE institutions, representatives for the dis-
abled offer guidance and information to students, appli-
Article 27 of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with
disabilities includes obligations to: cants and staff with disabilities and chronic illnesses on
questions related to studies and social issues. The student
enable persons with disabilities to have effective ac- support service (Studentenwerk) also maintains a special
cess to general technical and vocational guidance pro- guidance service for disabled students which primarily
grammes, placement services and vocational and con- deals with social and financial issues.
tinuing training;

promote employment opportunities and career advance- Commissioned by the integration authorities and the
ment for persons with disabilities in the labour market, bodies responsible for rehabilitation, special Integration
as well as assistance in finding, obtaining, maintaining Services (Integrationsfachdienste) offer vocational and
and returning to employment.
career guidance for the disabled (Social Code IX § 109).
(United Nations, 2006) This service focuses particularly on severely disabled
adults, who are in need of intensive personal support, and
on their employers. In addition to information, guidance,
School guidance for pupils with disabilities is mainly support and placement, a major task of the Integration Ser-
provided within special schools and by the psychological vices is the assessment of competences, abilities and inter-
service. The School Psychological Service also co-operates ests of their clients. They co-operate with various partners
with the Municipal Medical Service and in particular with who are involved in the process of vocational rehabilita-
parents concerning the decisions regarding enrolment tion (e.g. rehabilitation bodies, EAs, employers, chambers
in special schools. Here, the inclusion of young people of commerce and crafts).
in mainstream general education has priority. In special
schools, career education and preparation for the world Following Social Code IX (§§ 22–25), the bodies re-
of work and for career decisions are often also provided in sponsible for rehabilitation are required to maintain local
connection with practical lessons and work experience pe- Common Service Agencies (Gemeinsame Servicestellen)
riods. Teachers, social workers and rehabilitation experts which – as a first port of call – offer guidance on all issues
from the Health Care Service and the EA work together. of medical and vocational rehabilitation to disabled people
and refer them to other relevant services.
Young disabled people receive regular vocational
training in companies and vocational schools, following 4.2 Guidance for disadvantaged youth
the dual VET system but with additional assistance accord-
ing to their individual needs. If the nature and seriousness Young people from socially disadvantaged groups often
of the disability make it necessary, they attend special vo- need additional support to enter training or employment
cational training centres (Berufsbildungswerke) or similar or to continue their education. At-risk youth in danger of