MONTICELLO — Employers, workforce professionals, community organizations and veterans gathered Wednesday morning within the Grand Ballroom area of The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark to discuss making workplaces more inclusive while connecting job seekers with new opportunities.

Titled “Beyond the Uniform: Access for All — Connecting Veterans and Diverse Talent to Opportunity,” the summit featured 15 vendors and drew approximately 80 attendees, according to Scott Curry, the Center for Workforce Development’s disability resource coordinator and the event’s host.

Collaboration was at the heart of the event, which was presented through a team effort between Action Toward Independence and the Center for Workforce Development. The lively summit brought together representatives from Sullivan, Orange and Ulster counties to discuss employment pathways for veterans and people with differing abilities.

Although the corridor was lined with opportunities, this wasn’t your typical job fair. Curry described the summit as an educational forum intended to raise awareness, encourage conversations and help organizations put ideas into action.

The morning’s activities included discussions centered on supporting veterans and people with disabilities throughout the employment process, from hiring to retention, while connecting employers with community services that could support their staff.

“[Because] one business can’t do it if their employees don’t have services in the community,” Curry explained.

The challenges can be particularly pronounced for veterans returning to civilian life, as limited access to resources and connections can create hurdles in finding employment. Curry also addressed misconceptions employers may have about hiring veterans, noting that those with military backgrounds can bring discipline and a readiness to work.

The event featured workshops, including one focused on workplace accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Titled “Making Workplace Accommodations Work: Practical ADA Decision-Making,” the workshop was led by Northeast ADA Center Extension Associate Jeffrey J. Tamburo, with assistance from Sarah Accarino of Independent Living Inc.

During the workshop, Tamburo discussed how employees and employers can identify functional limitations that affect essential job duties and explore potential accommodations. Employees, for example, can explain the challenges they experience at work without necessarily disclosing a specific diagnosis.

The discussion also covered service animals and accommodation requests involving employees with different needs, highlighting the importance of considering individual circumstances.

Outside the workshops, vendors lined the corridor, providing opportunities to connect with employers, community organizations and service providers. Participating organizations represented a variety of fields, including independent living, health care, local government, agriculture and recovery housing.

The workshops were part of a broader morning program that also included a wrap-up session before the event concluded around noon.