LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Simeon Goldman upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award
on June 3, 2013

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those individuals within the great Empire State who have made
strong contributions to the disability community; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Simeon Goldman
upon the occasion of his designation as the ninth recipient of the annu-
al Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award, presented at the 2013 Legis-
lative Disabilities Awareness Day sponsored by the New York State Assem-
bly Task Force on People with Disabilities and the New York State
Assembly Committee on Mental Health on June 3, 2013; and
WHEREAS, The Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award was created in
2005 to honor the late Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. for his lifelong commit-
ment to advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The tremendous efforts Simeon Goldman of Albany, New York,
has made to improve and enhance the lives of New Yorkers with disabili-
ties are worthy of this notable recognition; and
WHEREAS, Simeon Goldman is a Senior Staff Attorney at Disability Advo-
cates, Inc. in Albany, New York, which is nationally recognized as one
of the leading civil rights law firms for people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Since 1989, it has been the mission of Disability Advocates,
Inc. to protect and advance the rights of adults and children who have
disabilities so they can freely exercise their own life choices, enforce
their rights and fully participate in their community life; and
WHEREAS, Disability Advocates, Inc., achieves this goal through policy
advocacy, litigation, coalition-building, public information and techni-
cal support for other advocates for people with disabilities in New
York; and
WHEREAS, A 1986 graduate of SUNY Buffalo Law School, Simeon Goldman
has worked at Disability Advocates, Inc. since 1991, enforcing the
employment, housing, community integration and other civil rights of
people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Prior to joining Disability Advocates, Inc., Simeon Goldman
served as Director of Advocacy at the Capital District Center for Inde-
pendence; and
WHEREAS, Simeon Goldman has successfully litigated employment and
housing discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act,
the Fair Housing Act, and the New York State Human Rights Law; and has
advised elected officials, employers, housing providers and others on
complying with these laws; and
WHEREAS, An Adjunct Professor at Albany Law School, he teaches a semi-
nar class on Mental Disability Law; furthermore, he has lectured exten-
sively on the rights of persons with disabilities for the New York State
Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, the New York State
Division for Human Rights, Cornell University, the National Lawyers'
Guild and numerous other organizations; and
WHEREAS, Simeon Goldman has authored the chapter on housing discrimi-
nation in the New York State Bar Association's Representing People with
Disabilities, Third Edition; and
WHEREAS, The initiatives Simeon Goldman strives to implement as a
passionate advocate for persons with disabilities mirror the priorities
that this Legislative Body has before us today, the New York State
Assembly Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day 2013; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to honor Simeon Goldman, a
leader and an advocate, recognizing his labors and the promise of his
future endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Simeon Goldman upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award by the New York State
Assembly; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Simeon Goldman.