New York’s free two-day DREAM Symposium brings disabled job seekers, inclusive employers, state agencies and assistive-technology experts together as the state expands its Employment First strategy.
The fifth annual New York DREAM Symposium opened Wednesday in Albany with a career fair, resource fair and assistive-technology demonstrations focused on expanding employment opportunities for disabled New Yorkers.
DREAM stands for Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month. The free two-day event, scheduled for Oct. 14 and 15, connects job seekers with employers, government agencies, nonprofit service providers and technology that can make workplaces more accessible.
The program is led by the New York State Office of the Chief Disability Officer with support from numerous agencies, including the Department of Labor, Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Mental Health, Department of Civil Service, State Education Department and Division of Human Rights.
What the DREAM Symposium offers
The first day includes direct meetings between job seekers and employers, information tables from state and nonprofit programs and demonstrations of assistive technology. Such technology can include screen-reading tools, braille displays, adaptive keyboards, communication devices and other equipment that helps a person perform job duties.
Breakout sessions across the event address private-sector inclusion, universal design, transitions from school to work and between life stages, community participation, public benefits, financial literacy, self-advocacy and employment in a changing economy.
The symposium is free for attendees and exhibitors. The official DREAM event page lists the Albany event, dates and program information. People considering attendance should use that page for current logistics and accessibility details.
Employment First changes the state’s goal
The event supports New York’s Employment First policy. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order 40 in September 2024, directing state agencies to treat competitive integrated employment as the preferred outcome for working-age people with disabilities who receive state services.
Competitive integrated employment generally means a job in the regular labor market, alongside workers with and without disabilities, with pay and benefits comparable to those received by people doing similar work. The policy also recognizes that some people may need career planning, training, internships, workplace supports or benefits counseling to reach that goal.
The order requires state agencies to make employment planning more person-centered and to consider a person’s own goals and informed choices. It also directs agencies to address transitions for young people leaving school and to support access to assistive technology.
New York’s Employment First agenda includes improving the employment-service system, strengthening data, expanding partnerships with businesses and making transitions between school, services and work more seamless. The state’s Office of the Chief Disability Officer coordinates the effort.
What this means for Mohawk Valley job seekers
The symposium is based in Albany, but the services it highlights are available statewide. In the Mohawk Valley, a disabled person seeking work can begin with a New York State Career Center or Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation, better known as ACCES-VR.
ACCES-VR helps eligible New Yorkers whose disabilities affect their ability to get, keep or advance in a job. Services can include vocational counseling, assessment, training, job placement and help identifying reasonable accommodations. The program also offers pre-employment transition services for students ages 14 to 21 who are enrolled in education or training.
The Department of Labor says ACCES-VR has district and satellite offices across the state. New Yorkers can call 1-800-222-JOBS (5627) or use the state’s career services for persons with disabilities page to find the appropriate office and learn how to apply.
Local job fairs also matter. The Utica Phoenix previously covered a Diverse Abilities Job Fair organized with the Workforce Development Board, Department of Labor and ACCES-VR. Readers can also review our coverage of recent disability-rights concerns involving community integration.
State employment paths for disabled applicants
New York’s 55-b and 55-c programs create another path into state government. The 55-b program allows up to 1,700 positions normally filled through a competitive examination to be designated for qualified people with disabilities. The 55-c program permits up to 500 designated positions for qualified veterans with disabilities.
Applicants still must meet the job’s qualifications. The programs do not guarantee employment, but they can allow appointment to certain entry-level state jobs without the usual competitive examination. Information and candidate registration are available through the Department of Civil Service 55-b/c Recruitment Resources Center.
Employers also have practical reasons to participate. Inclusive hiring can expand the pool of qualified workers, while accessible design and clear accommodation processes can improve retention. The state Department of Labor lists hiring incentives and tax credits that may apply in some cases, including a state credit connected to workers with disabilities who meet program requirements.
Workplace rights and reasonable accommodation
New York law prohibits employment discrimination based on disability. Depending on the circumstances, a reasonable accommodation might involve a modified schedule, accessible equipment, changes to a workspace or another adjustment that allows a qualified employee to perform the job.
Workers and applicants who believe they experienced disability discrimination can contact the New York State Division of Human Rights. Reporting is free, and a person does not need an attorney to make a report. The division can be reached at 844-NYS-DHR1, or 844-697-3471, and provides an official workplace disability-rights guide.
Individual cases depend on their facts, so people facing an urgent legal or employment problem may also want advice from a qualified advocate or attorney.
Awareness must lead to measurable access
Hochul proclaimed October 2026 as Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month in New York. State landmarks are scheduled to be lit red, light blue and gold-yellow on Oct. 14. The observance coincides with the 81st anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Symbolic recognition can draw attention to the issue, but the practical test is whether disabled New Yorkers can find work, obtain needed accommodations, earn fair pay and build careers. Career fairs and demonstrations are useful when they lead to interviews, placements, accessible onboarding and long-term support.
The state’s Employment First executive order and the Employment First information page explain the policy and participating agencies. The governor’s DREAM Symposium announcement provides the full state summary.
Have you found a local employer, school or public agency that handles accessibility especially well? Share practical examples in the comments so other Mohawk Valley job seekers and employers can learn from them.
