The importance of the theoretical foundations of the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) for the description of participation (in working life) is indisputable. As a consequence, it has increasingly been used in scientific studies. ICF’s great potential for the practical work has also been recognised in many cases. However, there are only few institutions in the social and health care sector that make consistent use of ICF or consistently use ICF in their every-day work or for documentation purposes.

In the context of the 44th annual meeting of the German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention, the Medical University of Hanover now organises an ICF User Symposium for the Federal State of Lower Saxony. On Friday, 19 September 2008, special aspects of the operational spectrum of ICF in emergency hospitals, in the care of mentally ill persons, as well as in the field of vocational rehabilitation and assessment, will be presented in Hanover. The organisers aim to encourage the implementation of theory into practical action and to establish a working knowledge in order to recognize opportunities, benefits and potential pitfalls of the ICF application. Moreover, posters with selected topics of possible ICF applications will be put up for discussion with the authors.

Finally, the speakers will debate on the practical use of ICF with the audience. The organisers hope that the symposium will incite participants to look into ICF as a classification as well as a model more deeply and to further explore possible application areas.