Until recently, the corrections literature has been relatively silent about mentally and physically disabled inmates. Although attempts have been made to identify the prevalence of special-needs populations (e.g., mentally ill, mentally retarded, physically disabled) in jails and prisons, little is known about disabled individuals assigned to community corrections programs. This study attempted to identify the number of disabled individuals in a midwestern residential and work release facility and to more clearly understand their experiences in this community-based correctional setting. The study describes the employment and financial barriers that make successful reintegration into the community difficult for disabled offenders, but concludes that work release programs may be an important vehicle for providing disabled individuals with employment opportunities that have previously been denied them. Notes, references