In a study initiated by the German League against Rheumatism, 433 young patients with rheumatic disorders (mean age 27 years, disease duration 7.5 years, 60% female, 40% male) were questioned in 1989 for the first time to ascertain disease-related problems encountered at school or during professional training. Their self-reported diagnoses were 68.2% chronic arthritis and 23.6% Ankylosing spondylitis (definite or probable diagnosis). From 181 patients who had been affected at school age, 84.5% reported the following main problems: absence related to illness, exclusion from excursions and school-related activities. Nevertheless, a majority of the patients (60.5%) reached a qualified graduation. 25.3% of the study sample was still attending school, 50.3% were employed, 8.6% were unemployed, and 4.5% had been retired early. Only 37.7% of the Arthritis patients and 22.3% of the Spondylitis patients had sought advice and help from the labour exchange services; 26.9% of the arthritis patients and 21.9% of the Spondylitis patients assessed this advice to be helpful. Regarding vocational guidance, the patients main criticism was a lack of knowledge about rheumatic disorders. There is a demand for an adjustment of the individual physical abilities and the requirements of the respective jobs, and continuous supervision by a rheumatologist is necessary.