New Visions Blog

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Students preparing Halloween goodies.  This October, a group of students at Riverdale Country School decided they wanted to share their Halloween joy. The kids, ages 11-13, discovered Barrier Free Living's programs for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities. They were particularly drawn to the fact that over a hundred children live at the agency's shelter and supportive housing program. The students organized a drive, under the guidance of Nelson Arroyo (English Department, MS Community of Learning… read more

Barrier Free Living (BFL) will hold its 4th annual Clothesline Project 2021 the week of October 18. This year the event is virtual, and will kick off on Instagram live (@bfl_newyork) at noon (EST) on Oct. 18 from our supportive housing program in the Bronx. The BFL Clothesline will be on display, featuring t-shirts created by tenants, residents and participants from our domestic violence programs, along with staff and supporters. Each shirt is hand-made and features a heart-felt message about ending domestic violence. The… read more

MOPD Night at the Movies! - CODA Enjoy a screening of CODA in Brooklyn Bridge Park on Monday, September 20. The event starts at 7 pm. Plan to arrive by 6:30 pm to claim your spot on Pier 1’s Harbor View Lawn.  Bring a blanket! Hosted by the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) in honor of Deaf Awareness Month, CODA is a new coming-of-age comedy-drama that follows a hearing teenage girl who is a child of Deaf adults. Rain… read more

In October 2020, Karisma signed on as a Communication Department intern at Barrier Free Living (BFL). In addition to contributing to the agency New Visions blog, she also ran workshops on belly dancing (photo above) and shared her rich experience as a doula.   This summer, Karisma helped the agency welcome a new communication intern, Austen, taking a moment to chat with him about what drew him to BFL for his… read more

Barrier Free Living’s (BFL) summer Communications Department intern Austen Bird not only spoke with Saori Arts volunteer Maurine Packard, he also stopped into the zoom workshop! The special weaving class ran for the month of July  and drew BFL program residents, tenants and participants along with agency staff. "I learned a lot from Maurine and how weaving can be a relaxing activity that can let your creativity flourish. Maurine shares… read more

Shorts Program: Love is in the Air In celebration of July's Disability Pride Month, enjoy short films shedding new light on dating and relationships. Films streaming Jul 16–30 Virtual filmmaker panel Thu, Jul 22, 7 pm Tickets: https://bit.ly/3xQ3UjK… read more

An award-winning photojournalist, Erica Lansner - born on the Upper West Side of New York City - has traveled to more than 35 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa on assignment for leading international magazines and corporations.   This July, thanks to her incredible generosity and dedication to “making a difference” in the world - she took up her camera (as a volunteer) to create portraits… read more

The Identity Theatre Company celebrates its 10 year anniversary this June with a show taking a unique twist on the famed Vagina Monologues. The Vaginal Penologues "gives voice to the human condition as it relates to sexuality" featuring a cast of actors from New York , Los Angeles and Ohio, says Dr. Nick Linnehan of Identity. "Just as diverse as the content is, the actors follow suit giving unique perspectives on many topics that are often hard to… read more

Karisma joined Barrier Free Living (BFL) as a communication department intern this winter. In addition to sharing her writing and social media skills, she also brings her unique talents as a belly dance instructor and doula. The multi-talented Karisma discusses her interest in being a doula as it relates to her overall life plan. My work as a pre-medical student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, planted the seed for my… read more

Barrier Free Living mourns the loss of Mr. Jack Fritts, an early board member of the agency. The following obituary is from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. We mourn the passing of our former partner and firm chairman, John F. (Jack) Fritts. Mr. Fritts, 86, who passed away earlier this week. A giant in the New York legal community, Mr. Fritts joined the firm in 1959 following his undergraduate studies at Princeton University and his law degree from Harvard. He became… read more

A Book Fair at Barrier Free Living (BFL) Apartments brought books to dozens of kids living at the Bronx based supportive housing site this April. BFL Apartments offers permanent homes to survivors of domestic with disabilities. There is a family and a singles building in the 120 unit complex. The event, made possible through a donation from FreshAir.org, is in line with the BFL Learning Center’s mission to support and find creative… read more

The Learning Center at Barrier Free Living Apartments is having a Spring Book Fair April 30, providing books to dozens of kids living at the Bronx-based program for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities. The event, made possible thought a donation and collaboration with FreshAir.org, is in line with the Learning Center's mission to support and find creative ways to encourage learning at all times and especially during Covid-19. Barrier… read more

Barrier Free Living joins Peace Over Violence and Denim Day New York City to invite survivors of sexual assault and their allies everywhere to take part in the 21st Annual Denim Day awareness campaign on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. For 2021, Denim Day NYC is focusing on systemic and institutional failures around preventing sexual violence and providing alternative paths to healing for survivors. Check out the calendar of… read more

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