New Visions Blog

BFL has launched a Domestic Violence and Disabilities Resources page specific to facts and information around its expertise on the topics of Domestic Violence and Disability.  Click link below to view the BFL team's culling of reports to create a critical 'Do You Know' sheet, with items like: Do you know: The number one issue of Women with Disabilities nationwide is Domestic Abuse. 80% of women with disabilities have been sexually assaulted. Increased rates of abuse by both men and women with disabilities… read more

BFL Apartments has launched a community newsletter, led by tenants and organized by the occupational therapy team and social worker Sam Finan. The newsletter's first issue is slated to release early fall, and will feature original poetry, listings of area happenings, and community news (including an update on the tenant's garden club, pictured).… read more

Paul Feuerstein, President/CEO of Barrier Free Living was part of a panel on emergency preparedness for NYC Vulnerable Populations hosted by the Human Services Council (HSC). The panel was part of the August 3 forum -- “The Human Services Sector and the Next Big One: Are We Ready for Disaster!?,” --  which included  discussions on how human services organizations can get prepared to coordinate with each other and government to provide services to communities immediately in response to disasters and what… read more

Volunteers from Moody's made-over the Freedom House game room this month, brightening the space for children and teens at the domestic violence shelter. Working with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), the Moody's volunteers painted, hung a wall mural and put together a foosball table. The work was made possible due to a grant from Moody's in line with its corporate service day.… read more

Residents of Barrier Free Living's Freedom House program and members of the agency's occupational therapy team joined Life Rolls On  at Rockaway Beach, NY on July 23 for a day of adaptive surfing. Life Rolls On sponsors "epic surf and skate events for wheelchair athletes". The residents plan to attend an adaptive water skiing event later this month. Founded by world champion quadriplegic surfer Jesse Billauer, Life Rolls On is… read more

Jericho Road will hold its 9th annual Breaking the Bonds of Domestic Violence walk on October 1. Registration and information is available here. Jericho Road Inc. is a 501(c) 3 community based organization that is the vision of Dr. Elena Bascom, a survivor of domestic violence (DV). Due to her experiences as a child and as a victim of domestic violence, Dr. Bascom began outreach work to help… read more

My “encore”€ work is expanding our focus into assisting disabled victims of domestic violence with emergency and permanent barrier-free housing. Thirty years ago, I had no clue that the #1 issue facing women with disabilities nationwide is domestic abuse. Once I realized that the city had no services for this population, I worked to build a totally accessible domestic violence shelter for severely disabled women and their children, as well as victims… read more

Tamara Willis joined  Barrier Free Living (BFL) this summer as an intern working with our Occupational Therapy team. We caught up with Tamara (photo above) while she was participating in a gardening day project on the patio of our transitional housing program to talk about growth in all of its forms. BFL: Tell us a little about you Tamara. Tamara: I am a native New Yorker, born and raised in Queens, NY. I attended undergrad at Delaware State University… read more

The BBC's Film The World's Worst Place to Be Disabled? on Youtube looks at disabled journalist Sophie Morgan's heart-wrenching journey. Chained up at prayer camps, exiled from villages for being cursed, forced on the streets and in some cases even killed, this is the reality for many disabled people in Ghana. Disabled journalist Sophie Morgan goes on an immersive journey to discover if Ghana is the World's Worst The World's Worst Place to Be Disabled? Beginning in the country's thriving capital Accra… read more

Nora J. Baladerian, Ph.D and Thomas F. Coleman each received an award from The Arc of Riverside County at its 50th Anniversary awards Dinner in June. Nora was honored for her role as an  advocate of abuse education and prevention for people with disabilities, and  Tom for his role as a rights and justice advocate seeking reform of conservatorship and guardianship systems. The Arc of Riverside County recently produced a two-minute video about the Disability and Abuse Project.  In the video, Nora (Executive… read more

The staff of BFL's Transitional Housing honored father's on June 19 hosting a cook out on the shelter's back patio. The kitchen staff created a BBQ buffet and the BFL team and shelter residents gathered for the celebration… read more

Volunteers from Morgan Stanley spent the day painting and gardening at Barrier Free Living's (BFL) transitional housing shelter for people with disabilities on June 10 as part of the Federation of Protestant Welfare's (FPWA) summer corporate service day. The energetic group painted and refurbished a kitchen area and office, as well as weeding and planting the shelter's garden area where residents gather. "These few hours of service impact the… read more

HSU held its 20th Anniversary gala and leadership awards on June 8. Honorees addressing the enthusiastic crowd were: Sean Delany, on behalf of Lawyers Alliance for New York; Christine C. Quinn, CEO of Win & former New York City Council Speaker and CEO; and Christy Parque. President of the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies & former Executive Director of Homeless Services United, Inc. Parque, who was given the Legacy Award… read more

In its second week, the BFL Apartments tenant led garden club grew its numbers. Several new members joined, and planting continued. The group chose to order several new larger planters for the roof garden, as well as discussing its first garden club luncheon, planned for late June.… read more

The BFL Apartments team served up a sizzling BBQ for tenants of the complex kicking off the summer season on June 1. Tenants of the family and singles building mingled on the parking lot turned picnic grounds and enjoyed traditional summer fare. The child care team offered face painting, hopscotch and hoola hoop activity for the kids.… read more

BFL Apartments kicked off its tenant Garden Club this memorial day weekend. Working with the occupational therapy team and Director of Communications Scott Hess, the tenant's garden club began their summer meetings on the roof, planting a variety of blooms. The club plans to plant vegetables and additional flowers, as well as having a summer luncheon for its members.… read more

Georgette Delinois, Director of Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden domestic violence program has retired. "After nearly 14 years of service at Barrier Free Living (BFL) as the director of the Non-Residential Domestic Violence Program, AKA Secret Garden, I am happily retiring to be with my family." says Delinois. "I would be remiss if I did not express my gratitude to BFL for the opportunity to work at Secret Garden, to … read more

Barrier Free Living's Occupational Therapy team launched a beading stress management group at the agency's domestic violence programs this May. The group explores "the functions and value of beading as a stress management coping mechanism, to foster creativity, improve communication skills, practice/enhance/develop fine motor-visual perceptual-and cognitive skills, and build a sense of community." There are three bracelet patterns that range from easier to more difficult in order to accommodate each person’s individual skill… read more

Photo of Amanda Deutch: Raymond Adams Parachute Literary Arts has launched a youth poetry library at the Association to Benefit Children in East Harlem. The launch event, held May 16, 2016 4:00-5:30 at the Association's Bistro Room, 1841 Park Avenue at 126th street, will include readings by Poet Sheila Maldonado and ABC Youth. Refreshments will be served. Amanda Deutch , Artistic Director and Founder of Parachute Literary Arts created the youth library. Publishers… read more

Barrier Free Living Transitional Housing shelter residents created floral bouquets for themselves, family and friends this May. The workshop, facilitated by the BFL Occupational Therapy team,  allowed for social engagement and participation, and as a way to celebrate both spring and Mother's Day.… read more

NYU Dental offered an oral health care/dental screening session for tenants of Barrier Free Living Apartments this May. BFL's Nurse Brenda McGriff, who set up the visit, says the session helps stress the importance of dental health and overall self care for families at BFL apartments.… read more

The 8th Annual Handprints of the Heart sponsored by Goldman Sachs took place this month at Freedom House. The event is a celebration of Mother’s Day and includes activities and a lunch with the families at the shelter. The volunteers worked with young shelter residents to create ceramic handprints, t-shirts and jewelry that kids presented to their parents after lunch.… read more

Over 60 residents, participants and tenants of Barrier Free Living's domestic violence programs for people with disabilities attended a joyous May 8 Spread The Sparkle Mother's Day event. Held at Home Studios in New York City, mothers, children and families of BFL programs were treated to a day of pampering and appreciation. A buffet lunch was served, the children participated in a talent show, and a special "remember this day"… read more

BFL Apartments tenant Felicia Ridges hopes to further her education and career goals, using the fund raising platform Benevolent. Felicia worked with her social worker David Kwon, posting a video on the site about her journey, from surviving domestic violence to finding her own home. "Felicia's goal is to help others who have experienced similar issues by becoming a drug counselor. Her first step is to get her GED then she… read more

Barrier Free Living (BFL) Apartments welcomed participants of the  National Housing Conference's (NHC) Solutions for Housing Communications conference Mobile Workshop on April 28. Paul Feuerstein, BFL President/CEO welcomed the group along with Thomas Obrzut, BFL Apartments Director and Lenore Warren, Director of Social Services. Mega Construction was also on hand. The group took a tour of a resident apartment and had a Q&A with the BFL Apartments' team. NHC's Solutions for Housing Communications 2016 Convening connects affordable housing developers, advocates, funders… read more

Barrier Free Living will be a participate in St. John University’s 9th Annual Turn Off The Violence week, April 25-27. The Queens campus of St. John’s will  recognize those victims of violence who come from “many different countries, races, religions, and socioeconomic statuses, and to take a stand against all power-based personal violence that often occurs in personal relationships.” Turn off the Violence Week promotes "awareness, empowerment… read more

Shine Foundation held a Spring Soirée / financial fair at Freedom House on April 25 to culminate its month long Financial Engagement workshop for residents at the emergency domestic violence shelter. In addition to celebrating and reaffirming goals set during the 4 week workshop, Shine set up an "Aida's Dare to Dream" booth, and asked residents, staff and volunteers to write down what they "dared to dream" … read more

For over two decades, Malcolm Wattman has been a powerful presence on Barrier Free Living’s board of directors, offering his insights and expertise as well an unshakeable commitment to the agency’s mission. With a career spanning 52 years, including work as an engineer and as a corporate and securities lawyer at Cadwalader, Wickerhsam and Taft, Malcolm officially retired in January of 2015, but his boundless energy and philanthropic commitment to charity… read more

Caelan Manning, a case manager at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden program,is one of three IRCares Scholarship Grant award winners for 2016. The IRCares Scholarship Grant is an award of $1,000 in unrestricted funds. Three winners are chosen, based on a nomination for the award by another employee from his/her organization. This Grant is designed to recognize the hard work and dedication of direct care and/or support-level workers in nonprofit… read more

For the fourth consecutive year, the Assurant Foundation has awarded Barrier Free Living a $10,000 New Growth Fund grant in support of the agency’s work with severely disabled formerly homeless individuals. Over the years, funds have been used to buy a new stove to feed shelter residents, and to fund initiatives like Barrier Free Living’s successful Project Give Back, where a former shelter resident designs a workshop or project to inspire current shelter residents… read more