2026 D.R.E.A.M. Exhibition

Exhibition on View 2026 D.R.E.A.M. Exhibition

New York State Capitol
Governor's Reception Room
Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
D.R.E.A.M.
New York's Blueprint for Disability Equal Access
Past, Present, and Future

 

October 2026 marks the 81st anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a federally recognized initiative that celebrates the contributions of people with disabilities in the American workforce. Since October 2022, New York State has expanded this annual tradition to become Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month (DREAM).

This year’s DREAM exhibition, “New York’s Blueprint for Disability Access: Past, Present, and Future,” serves as a record of past legislative mandates, advocacy coalitions, and historical precedents that shape contemporary policy. The exhibition highlights current statutory protections and state-level mechanisms designed to enforce equitable workforce integration and community inclusion.

DREAM Symposium. 5th Anniversary. Save the Date. October 14-15, 2026. Empire State Plaza Concourse. Albany, NY. Valuable insights and tools for employment 1st community, job seekers with disabilities, families and caregivers, disability service providers, agency leaders, policy makers.

New York State's DREAM observance culminates in a public symposium held annually in the Empire State Plaza Concourse.

Explore D.R.E.A.M.

Willowbrook State School

Willowbrook State School opened in 1947 as part of a broader nationwide movement to centralize the containment and medical treatment of people with disabilities.

Disability Advocates

Judith “Judy” Heumann (1947-2023) • Willie Mae (b.1931) and Marguerite Goodman (b.1955) • Eunice Fiorito (1930-1999)

Early Twentieth Century Advocacy

The 1960s are often regarded as the beginning of the Disability Rights Movement, but Americans with disabilities, particularly New Yorkers, had been calling for their rights for years before.

Impact, Advocacy, and Action

Through grassroots activism, media attention, legislative action, and evolving statewide programs, New York State keeps expanding opportunities for people with disabilities.