Victims with Disabilities

As you go about your day, every day, you likely are sitting, standing or walking next to a victim of neglect or abuse – a victim who has never reported the crime. That’s because he has some type of disability that deters him from interacting with the court system. It may be a physical disability that inhibits his ability to communicate. Or a physical handicap making it easy to explain away an injury as something other than a criminal act. It may be a mental disability that infers that is he not credible or reliable. But whatever the reason, it is unacceptable. And that’s why The Law Offices of William K. Goldfarb has made it a priority and a special interest to seek justice on behalf of the disabled.

This special interest is a calling for the firm’s founder, William K. Goldfarb. He is driven by a desire developed in his youth to help people and he knew from a young age there was a legal aspect to being of true service.

North Carolina State University

Mr. Goldfarb attended North Carolina State University on a gymnastics scholarship. While in school, and on his own initiative, he began working with disabled children in a gym teaching them basic gymnastics – an avant garde endeavor at the time. Mr. Goldfarb arranged the gym time, off campus, on his own and worked with children of varying disabilities after hours. He can’t really explain why he did it or where the idea first came from. He just did it. On his own time. With no fanfare. No recognition. But it planted a seed of altruism that led him to become a lawyer in 1991. Since establishing his own firm in 1996, that sense of compassion is still foremost in his practice today….although he still avoids the spotlight.

Gym Carolina Gymnastics

In the coming weeks and months, you’ll find information about victims with disabilities on our website and our Facebook page. At a minimum, you’ll find it interesting. But we hope you’ll also find it helpful in understanding and perhaps even helping those among us who may need assistance and can’t ask for it. In the meantime, if you or a loved one, a friend or neighbor, need help or just have a question, please feel free to contact us at any time. You can call us at 704-296-0055 or submit your question through our website www.wkg-law.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

Disabled Voting Rights

One week from today is election day. And if you or a loved one are disabled, ALL are entitled to special care to insure you can cast your ballot.   In 2008, only 55% of people with disabilities voted in North Carolina compared to 69% of people without disabilities.

• The disabled can vote from home: early voting ends November 5 so get a ballot from your county Board of Elections, fill it out and mail it in. But to get an absentee ballot, your request must be submitted by 5pm TODAY. You can submit a request for a ballot in person, by fax, mail or email. But that request must be received by 5pm today.
• The disabled can vote in person: go to your polling place which is required to be accessible to the handicapped. You can have almost anyone help you fill out your ballot if you need it. The only exception: your employer or your union (if you belong to one) cannot help you. You may also be entitled to curbside voting which allows you to vote while remaining in a vehicle outside the polling location.
• The disabled can vote from a facility (nursing home, rest home, psychiatric, etc): contact or have a family member contact your Board of Elections for a ballot. Facility staff are not allowed to help you request a ballot or vote. Again the request for a ballot must be submitted by 5pm today.

For more information, or to download an absentee ballot request form, go to www.accessthevotenc.org.