About the ABLE Act and Our Law Clerk Sara Wolff's Involvement

Sara's advocacy helped raise awareness about this important law

At O'Malley & Langan, our commitment to the community extends beyond the work we do every day for workplace accident and personal injury victims. Beyond the courtroom, our legal team stays involved in a number of community organizations and works tirelessly in support of legislation designed to protect the rights of all workers. These efforts include the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE Act), which provides financial assistance to disabled workers.

Sara Wolff, a law clerk at our firm for more than 13 years, played an integral role in raising awareness for the ABLE Act, which President Obama signed into law in 2014.

A gifted public speaker and member of the National Down Syndrome Society, Sara created an online petition in support of the ABLE Act which gathered more than a quarter million supporters. Sara, who has Down syndrome and understands how the Act would benefit millions of disabled workers in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States, even testified before the Senate Finance Committee in Washington, D.C., in July 2014.

Sara Wolff speaks out publicly about the impact of the ABLE Act

The ABLE Act is critically important to so many people like Sara. She has been quoted extensively in the media both prior to and after the passage of the Act.

"I wanted to tell them that people with disabilities and different kinds of disabilities, and people with Down syndrome have the right to live on their own," she said of her reasons for testifying in Washington.

"This allows individuals like me to move past outdated laws that chain us to poverty," she told a reporter after the ABLE Act was passed.

The passage of the ABLE Act, spearheaded by Sara and introduced by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, paves the way for workers with long-term disabilities, such as Down syndrome or autism, to save money in tax-deferred accounts while qualifying for government services and Medicaid. This money can then be used for expenses such as housing, education, employment training and medical expenses.

Prior to the passage of the ABLE Act, Sara was unable to get a raise or work full time at O'Malley & Langan because it would have made her unable to qualify for Medicaid, which pays for her healthcare. Now that the bill has been passed, she can earn more money and save for the future.

Sara continues to remain highly active in the community. She is on the board of directors for The ARC of Northeastern Pennsylvania and other advocacy groups. In addition, she has spoken publicly to raise awareness about disability-related issues.  In 2002, the National Down Syndrome Society honored Sara alongside journalist Barbara Walters.

We're proud of the work we do - inside the courtroom and outside

The experienced legal team at O'Malley & Langan understands how important it is to stay active in the community, and that's why we're proud of our law clerk Sara Wolff. She illustrates how one person's efforts can make a significant impact on our society.

Our staff and attorneys remain active in other areas. We serve on the Board of Directors of Interfaith Worker Justice and work on behalf of local charities and organizations such as the Bill Bursis Foundation for Spinal Cord Research, Friendship House and American Cancer Society Relay for Life.