Governor Hochul Launches 4th Annual Dream Symposium To Promote Disability Rights And Inclusive Employment In New York

Published on October 29, 2025

By: Tuhin Sarkar

Governor Kathy Hochul has officially launched nan Fourth Annual New York State Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month (DREAM) Symposium, a pivotal arena designed to link New Yorkers pinch disabilities to inclusive employers, resources, and assistive technologies. The symposium, which spans 2 days, offers a broad bid of events aimed astatine promoting nan employment and authorities of group pinch disabilities, aligning pinch New York State’s “Employment First” argumentation and “State arsenic a Model Employer” initiative.

Through occupation fairs, assets fairs, and unrecorded demonstrations, nan symposium is an opportunity for occupation seekers to interact straight pinch employers and work providers who are committed to fostering inclusive, equitable activity environments. With Governor Hochul’s leadership, this arena serves arsenic a captious measurement toward creating a workforce that is genuinely accessible and typical of New York’s divers population.

Empowering Job Seekers pinch Disabilities

The DREAM Symposium provides a level for individuals pinch disabilities to link pinch some authorities and backstage employers from crossed nan Capital District and beyond. Day 1 of nan arena includes a occupation fair, an assistive exertion fair, and a assets adjacent wherever work providers connection important accusation and support to occupation seekers. These efforts bespeak New York’s ongoing committedness to ensuring that individuals pinch disabilities person entree to nan tools, resources, and opportunities needed to thrive successful nan workforce.

“New Yorkers pinch disabilities lend immensely to our system and communities,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why we’re taking inaugural to span nan spread betwixt employers and occupation seekers — breaking down barriers that support talented, qualified applicants from being considered.”

This year’s DREAM Symposium is peculiarly notable for its inclusion of a capacity by Move On, nan Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s inclusive creation program. This programme showcases nan talents of older teens and adults pinch neurodiverse and beingness aliases developmental disabilities, offering a powerful reminder of nan untapped imaginable successful each individual.

A Comprehensive Approach to Disability Employment

The arena is led by nan New York State Office of nan Chief Disability Officer (OCDO) successful collaboration pinch respective authorities agencies, including nan Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), nan Department of Labor (DOL), nan Office of Mental Health (OMH), and nan Department of Civil Service (DCS), among others. These agencies travel together to supply a wide array of resources and acquisition opportunities passim nan symposium.

Breakout sessions will screen a assortment of important topics, specified arsenic nan Americans pinch Disabilities Act, workplace accommodations, and customized employment. Additionally, nan symposium will characteristic discussions connected trends successful various industries, including manufacturing, and connection insights into transitioning crossed nan lifespan, ensuring that attendees person nan knowledge they request to navigate nan occupation marketplace successfully.

Highlighting nan Value and Talent of New Yorkers pinch Disabilities

In nickname of nan immense talent that group pinch disabilities bring to nan workforce, Governor Hochul officially proclaimed October 2025 arsenic Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month (DREAM) successful New York State. The taxable of “Celebrating Value and Talent” aligns pinch nan nationalist Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) taxable and emphasizes nan value of inclusive hiring practices.

“Everyone, sloppy of ability, deserves nan opportunity to gain a surviving and supply for themselves,” said New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Willow Baer. “This year’s taxable highlights nan unthinkable diverseness and talent that individuals pinch developmental disabilities bring to our communities and our workforce.”

The arena besides marks nan 80th day of NDEAM, underscoring New York State’s continued activity successful advocating for group pinch disabilities. Through actual actions for illustration nan Employment First argumentation and nan ongoing push for accessible, competitory employment, New York is creating a early wherever group pinch disabilities are weighted members of nan workforce.

Expanding Resources and Partnerships Beyond nan Event

The symposium is not conscionable a one-time arena but a stepping chromatic toward semipermanent impact. Governor Hochul besides announced 2 awesome initiatives aimed astatine sustaining nan momentum from nan DREAM Symposium.

First, nan Department of Civil Service launched a trading campaign, titled “You Belong Here,” to promote group pinch disabilities to use for jobs successful authorities agencies. This multi-faceted campaign, disposable successful some English and Spanish, features existent authorities labor pinch disabilities, helping to beforehand inclusive employment successful nan nationalist sector.

Second, a caller business betwixt nan Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, nan OCDO, and nan University astatine Albany’s Center for Assistive Technologies has been formed. This collaboration will attraction connected researching and processing assistive technologies that tin heighten nan occurrence of group pinch disabilities successful nan workplace, yet improving employment outcomes and promoting upward mobility.

Building a Truly Inclusive Workforce

As portion of nan ongoing committedness to inclusive practices, New York State is besides moving to foster greater consciousness and collaboration among businesses and organizations. The efforts to summation nan employment of group pinch disabilities are basal not conscionable for creating adjacent opportunities but besides for enhancing productivity and economical outcomes for each individuals.

“New York State’s workforce is strongest erstwhile it includes group of each backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives,” said Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of nan New York State Office of Mental Health. “Employment is foundational to independence, and nan DREAM Symposium provides a dedicated abstraction to talk astir employment arsenic recovery.”

Conclusion: Continuing nan Push for Equity and Inclusion

The Fourth Annual DREAM Symposium stands arsenic a testament to New York State’s ongoing efforts to create a much inclusive, equitable workforce. Through this event, Governor Hochul and her squad person reinforced nan value of disablement authorities and employment awareness, creating a level for individuals pinch disabilities to thrive successful nan workplace.

As nan arena draws to a close, nan connection is clear: New York State is committed to making nan workforce much accessible and ensuring that each individual, sloppy of ability, has nan chance to lend their skills and talents. The symposium is not conscionable astir connecting occupation seekers pinch employers; it’s astir fostering a civilization of inclusion that benefits everyone.