INTRODUCING WILLIAM W. ERHART, CELA
Back in the day, in addition to her seven children, my mother ran a daycare in her home. An autistic child, Linny, lived with us. Another child, Linda had IDD. She never went to school. But to us no one had a developmental disability. No one was retarded. With the fifteen kids or so in the house every day everyone fit in. There was no special ed until I was in high school. Then kids that seemed happy, but just got bad grades were pulled out of regular classes and put in special ed. They never seemed the same walking around segregated like they were anesthetized.
When the Medicaid laws changed in 2006 I started a Medicaid practice. That lead to disability law. A very satisfying practice. I developed a niche estate planning for clients with disabled adult children. My connections with the plaintiffs’ bar lead to settlement trusts. I was deep making a difference. I am a member of the ARC because I know the value of treating everyone the same.
My practice is to help people plan for the future of their children, their parents and themselves to ensure they receive the support and protection we all need as we age and need assistance. Each person, whether with a disability now or possibility in the future needs to plan for the same three things: Incapacity, transfer of property upon death and asset protection.
(sic) I graduated 385th out of 396th in my high school class, joined the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War as an atheist and wound up graduating from seminary where I studied Greek and Hebrew. All of my really bright friends with Ph.Ds. were teaching high school or working as librarians, so I knew there was no hope for me getting a teaching job, so I went to law school.
Other than my faith, my family is most important to me. My wife and daughter are my heroes. They never give up and set an example to me of discipline and vision. My daughter is the best, we vacation together, including multiple trips to South American, Europe and sailing. Yes, my wife comes sometimes.
I go outside on Saturday, no matter what. I run, walk, shovel snow, chop wood, whatever. Yes, I run in the rain and snow.
God on Stage, by Peter Kreef.