RESUMO
The paper presents the rehabilitation framework of spinal cord injured patients in the Sir Ludwig Guttman Centre in Israel. The social worker's special role in our centre is described, from the beginning of his work just after the patient's admission. A trusting relationship is established between the patient and the social worker throughout hospitalisation and subsequently. The social worker also deals with the special needs of the patient's family, providing emotional support and information on legal rights, etc. We present the specific social structure of Israel in relation to the rehabilitation of the disabled as well as the different official agencies providing services for them. There are considerable differences between the benefits provided by the various agencies for the needs of the spinal-cord injured. As the needs of the injured are the same, irrespective of the cause of injury, the task of the social worker is, therefore, extremely difficult.