Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday celebrated the second Annual Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month Symposium at the Empire State Plaza as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The event highlighted the rights of people with disabilities and continued the discussion around increasing the employment rate for people with disabilities throughout New York State.
The event included a job fair hosted by the Department of Labor, mock interviews, a vendor fair, several competitive rounds of bocce with some of New York’s Special Olympians, a screening of “The Path Forward – Remembering Willowbrook” documentary and six workshops pertaining to the employment of people with disabilities, including:
- An Update on New York State’s Civil Service 55 B Program & the Importance of Self Disclosure;
- The Partnership for Inclusive Internships: Expanding Work Opportunities in Government for People with Disabilities;
- OPWDD’s Employment Services – A Year in Review;
- Facts vs. Myths about Benefits/Benefits Counseling;
- Resume/Interview Prep Techniques; and
- The A in DEIA: Embedding Accessibility in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives.
“Increasing employment access, training opportunities, and financial stability for individuals with disabilities continues to be a core priority,” Governor Hochul said. “Having a disability should not preclude anyone from career planning or advancement, and I remain committed to supporting the rights of people with disabilities to fully attain their desired professional and personal milestones.”
