BETHPAGE, NY – Long Island job seekers of all abilities will have an opportunity to meet employers, speak directly with recruiters and apply for available positions when the 2026 Talent Connection Job Expo comes to Bethpage on Monday, October 5.
The inclusive employment event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center, located at 1001 Stewart Avenue in Bethpage. The expo is designed to connect employers from across Long Island with job seekers of all abilities, including people with disabilities who may benefit from an employment event specifically focused on accessibility and inclusion.
Job Seekers Can Meet Recruiters and Apply for Positions
Recruiters representing multiple industries are expected to participate, giving attendees an opportunity to discuss employment openings and identify positions that match their experience, skills and abilities. Organizers have also promoted the opportunity for job seekers to apply for positions on the spot.
Unlike employers participating as vendors, employment seekers do not need to register in advance to attend the expo. Individuals who require accommodations can contact organizers before the event.
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said the goal is to create an environment where people with different abilities can interact directly with employers and explore potential career opportunities.
“We believe that every individual, regardless of ability, has something unique to offer. This job expo is about unlocking those possibilities and creating pathways to success,” Saladino said in announcing the event.
Willow Baer to Serve as Keynote Speaker
Willow Baer, commissioner of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, is scheduled to serve as keynote speaker for the 2026 expo.
Baer leads the state agency responsible for coordinating services and supports for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities. Her participation adds a statewide disability-employment perspective to an event centered on connecting people directly with employers in their communities.
Several Long Island Disability Organizations Are Participating
The Talent Connection Job Expo is being presented by several organizations that provide services and employment support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities on Long Island, including Family Residences and Essential Enterprises (FREE), ACLD, AHRC Nassau and Life’s WORC.
Government partners publicizing or supporting the event include the Town of Oyster Bay, New York State Education Department, New York State Department of Labor and employment and vocational rehabilitation agencies. The Town has also identified the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing & Consumer Affairs and ACCES-VR among organizations partnering on the initiative.
The combination of disability-service organizations, workforce agencies and private employers is intended to reduce some of the barriers that can exist between job seekers and businesses looking for employees.
Free Professional Headshots Available
Job seekers will also have an opportunity to receive a free professional headshot during the expo. The headshots are being sponsored by eVero Corporation, which has promoted advance signup for those who want to reserve a spot.
For attendees actively searching for work, a current professional photograph can be useful for LinkedIn profiles, professional networking accounts and other employment-related materials.
Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center
2026 Talent Connection Job Expo Details
| Event | 2026 Talent Connection Job Expo |
| Date | Monday, October 5, 2026 |
| Time | 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Location | Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center |
| Address | 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714 |
| Who Can Attend | Job seekers of all abilities |
| Job Seeker Registration | No advance registration required |
| Keynote Speaker | Willow Baer, Commissioner of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities |
| Opportunities | Meet employers and recruiters, explore employment opportunities and apply for available positions |
| Additional Service | Free professional headshots sponsored by eVero Corporation; advance headshot signup is available |
| Event Information | TalentExpo.org |
An Ongoing Long Island Employment Initiative
The Talent Connection Job Expo is part of an ongoing effort rather than a first-time event. Similar job expos have previously brought employers, workforce agencies and job seekers together on Long Island with an emphasis on inclusive employment.
The New York State Department of Labor reported that a 2024 Job Expo for People of All Abilities connected job seekers with more than 20 employers and agencies. The Town of Oyster Bay also hosted a Talent Connection employment event in 2025, making the October gathering the latest installment in a continuing regional effort to expand access to employment.
People seeking additional information about the October 5 event can visit TalentExpo.org. Questions and accommodation requests can also be directed to event organizers Anita Dowd of Family Residences and Essential Enterprises at [email protected] or Jeanie Shelton of ACLD at [email protected].
For Long Islanders looking for work, the 2026 Talent Connection Job Expo provides something beyond an online employment listing: an opportunity to meet recruiters face-to-face, discuss available positions, make professional connections and potentially begin the application process during a single morning in Bethpage.
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