New Visions Blog

Who doesn't love a drive-in movie! The ReelAbilities Film Festival kicks off the 2021 Festival with a showing of Best Summer Ever at the Queens Drive-In. Barrier Free Living is a participating partner of the Festival. Founded in 2007 by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and… read more

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It was during a particularly rough period of her life that Jeanine Cahill Jackson first connected to the healing practice of yoga. An attorney by trade, Jeanine found comfort in the ancient practice, and eventually decided to study. Today, she is Director of the Outreach Department at Three Jewels, a New York City based center offering yoga and meditation. (Read Jeanine’s bio* and view her class welcome video below.) This month, Three… read more

Deaf is Not a Dirty Word: VM Expressions ASL Improv See Deaf Women share their trials and tribulations, inspiration, and humor. This show is inspired by The Vagina Monologues and Ihollaback! This show provides ASL with voice interpretation. Benefitting Barrier Free Living. Tickets: Friday, March 5, 2021 8:00 PM 10:00 PM Streaming online… read more

Larry and Lysa first became connected to Barrier Free Living through a touch of sparkle. The couple are members of Spread the Sparkle, a group which has created holiday events for the residents and tenants at Barrier Free Living's programs for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities for the past several years. In 2020, Larry and Lysa decided to step up their support of the agency, reaching out to friends and colleagues… read more

When Slick Chicks founder Helya Mohammadian learned about Barrier Free Living's work with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities, she knew it was a mission-match. Helya wanted to connect to and support a non-profit by donating her product - patented underwear "designed with side fasteners that make it easy for someone to put on or take off whether they are sitting, standing, or laying down." "We learned about BFL from (former… read more

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What began as a close-knit effort to give a few dozen gift bags to survivors of domestic violence on Valentine's Day has bloomed into a community-driven project delivering nearly 600 bags to 5 different shelters. This year, Barrier Free Living is the latest recipient of beautiful, bountiful gifts (photo above) prepared by the Valentine Community Project, bringing joy to the residents and tenants at our domestic violence shelter and program. We… read more

Barrier Free Living (BFL) received nearly 100 gorgeous hand-knitted scarves at an event at New York City's Bryant Park today, as part of the annual Found But Not Lost Program. BFL Director of Communications Scott Hess spoke at the event, expressing the agency's gratitude. "We are incredibly grateful to Bryant Park Corp. for the scarf donations again this year. Receiving a beautiful new scarf means so much to the residents and their kids… read more

In 2018, Stephanie decided to channel her love of cooking and her commitment to her roots into a winning recipe: PhanousKitchen. With a catering menu that offers everything from 5 cheese Mac and Cheese to Siracha Scotch Bonnet Wings or Rum Pineapple Cake Jars, Long Island NY based Chef Steph relies on old family recipes to keep things authentic. As the first guest star Chef in Barrier Free Living's new… read more

A powerful article from the Queens Daily Eagle, ENDGBV Voices Committee posted Jan. 28. 2021. Dana thought that once she left her abusive ex-husband, she and her young son would be safe. Instead, her ex began calling her hundreds of times a day, driving by her house regularly, and showing up unexpectedly to threaten her and her son. She had to move twice, and both times her ex found her again. Sadly, Dana’s experience isn’t unique — over 6 million men and women… read more

Leaving a toxic 15-year relationship behind, Mels found safety and support at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter. Now settled in a home of her own, she curates a successful blog #thehalpernproject whose mission is community empowerment. Big fans of Mels, we caught up with her to talk about her journey. BFL: How did you find Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter and what brought you there? Mels… read more

An article in Disability Insider states that 80% of women with disabilities suffer violence in Spain, 8 out of 10 during the COVID lockdown – a shocking fact. According to the experts, this situation has intensified during the coronavirus confinement. Read the full article here.  Barrier Free Living works with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and is celebrating it's 40th Anniversary this year. Learn more. … read more

Drawing on her rich experience as a Social Work intern at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House, Jessica Rios-Flores turned her love of journaling into a publishing venture in 2020.  A life-long believer that writing can help us "uncover truths" Jessica put out "My Self Healing Journal" on Etsy. We caught up with Jessica this month to talk about her time at Freedom House and her latest adventures (she also owns a… read more