New Visions Blog

  When 2023 volunteer Darlene asked what she might contribute to Barrier Free Living (BFL), the concept of bold, brilliant murals was not on the wish list. A few months later (after learning about Darlene's incredible talent) BFL's Freedom House domestic violence shelter has two new murals (with a third underway!) The murals brighten a kid's game room and a basement area, both… read more

Barrier Free Living CEO Cynthia Amodeo has been invited to be a member of the newly announced Special Victims Division Advisory Council ("the Advisory Council"). Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the creation of the Advisory Council to allow the District Attorney and his staff to gain input from a large variety of external stakeholders on a quarterly basis. Read the press release.… read more

Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter officially renamed the program's Family Center the Paul B. Feuerstein Family Center (photo above) on October 13, in honor of the agency's founder. "As the father of three and the grandfather of five, I've always had a special place in my heart for children," says Paul. "At Barrier Free Living, that translated into the children of Freedom House.  We were one of the first… read more

During October's Domestic Violence Awareness month Barrier Free Living programs will be engaged in activities like our Occupational Therapy team's DV support group where survivors created t-shirts with powerful messages. On “NYC Go Purple Day” (October 20th) local buildings and landmarks across the city light up in purple, and New Yorkers are encouraged to wear purple to show support for survivors. Learn about Domestic Violence Awareness month events.… read more

Barrier Free Living's (BFL) 6th annual Clothesline Project planned for on Oct. 4, 2023 from 10am-1pm at our supportive housing program in the Bronx has been postponed. Read about our Clothesline Project. … read more

Barrier Free Living CEO Cynthia Amodeo will present Serving Survivors with Disabilities at the New York State Office of Victim Services conference Redefining Victim Services in an Age of Uncertainty on August 22 – 24 in Albany, NY. Also attending from the BFL team are Erika Calderon Secret Garden Program Director, and De'Jon Buie Chief Program Officer. who will present Countering the Dual Oppression of Racism an Ableism. Learn more.  ⁠… read more

This July, the occupational therapy team at Barrier Free Living (BFL) presented a special "Vision Board" workshop for residents and staff at BFL's Freedom House domestic violence shelter. The goal was to "Reflect on your passions and goals and then express them to create a vision board or dream board which is a mix of photos, affirmations, patterns and colors that represent what you hope to achieve in the future." Participants shared visions boards… read more

Intertwine Arts celebrates Disability Pride month with an in-person weaving event July 16 in New York City's Central Park. The event is being held during the Disability Unite Festival, to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. Every July Disability Pride Month is celebrated to commemorate the passage of… read more

    Barrier Free Living celebrated LGBTQIA+ Pride at its programs this week, holding creative community events. At the supportive housing program in the Bronx, tenants and staff created tie-dye t-shirts and art inspired by Pride. At BFL's Freedom House and Secret Garden programs an origami workshop celebrating Pride… read more

Barrier Free Living's (BFL) Secret Garden domestic violence program hosted a Meditative Mindfulness training on June 9 led by Mushim Patricia Ikeda . The training was open to the agency staff. BFL's Secret Garden program provides counseling and case management for survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault who identify as disabled and/or D/deaf. Voice Hotline: 212-533-4358 Videophone Hotline 646-807-4020 Learn more. … read more

Zuzu and Luna (photos above) brought joy and healing to the kids at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter this spring. A Fair Shake for Youth provided its four-week program which guides kids "to learn about effective communication, relationship building, and respect by working with dogs." A Fair Shake for Youth "uses the power of registered therapy dogs to help middle school youth build a foundation of empathy… read more

Brendan Crain (photo above), Manager, NYC Culture Pass, Brooklyn Public Library, presented an overview of the Culture Pass program at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter June 5, 2023. Culture Pass is a collaborative program coordinated by Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library and The New York Public Library. If you have a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens… read more

Barrier Free Living CEO Cynthia Amodeo was featured in a CBS News story about domestic violence in the Bronx on June 1, 2023. View the story here.  The BFL team works with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities at our fully accessible Freedom House domestic violence shelter, our award winning Secret Garden domestic violence counseling program, and our BFL Apartments offering permanent homes with support services to survivors with disabilities and their families. Learn more and how to support… read more

Tenants at Barrier Free Living's Supportive Housing Program in the Bronx explored spring & early summer themes in an Occupational Therapy (OT) led art workshop, as well as digging into the rooftop summer garden. The rooftop tenant garden will be home for vegetables and flowers through the season and the OT team will host healthy cooking workshops using items grown. The creative healing art workshops are part of ongoing OT work… read more

The Barrier Free Living team participated in the May 25 Day Without Human Services rally. Over 6,000 people turned out for the rally and 100 organizations participated. The Human Services Council shares: "whether it was shutting down services, sending staff to the rally, sending emails and making phone calls to the Mayor and City Council, or tweeting up a storm on social media. We were a formidable force. Together, we demonstrated… read more

A Pride banner created at BFL in 2019. Barrier Free Living (BFL) will celebrate June's LGBTQIA+ Pride month with a host of activities at its programs for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities. BFL's supportive housing program in the Bronx will host a Pride related two-part "Sip & Paint/Tie Dye Workshop." for tenants. The team shares that "participants will be provided with the option of painting individual canvases or dyeing… read more

Barrier Free Living (BFL) launched its Family Day Kids' Sumer Fun campaign this May. The campaign supports BFL's work with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families, and funds raised will be used for learning center led events with kids, from a trip to the zoo to the splish splash water park. Funds also support future family day community gatherings. The campaign is built on the concept of a family being… read more

Regular collaborator Exhale to Inhale  returns with on demand yoga for the Barrier Free Living team and survivors at our shelter and programs. Exhale to Inhale was "Founded in honor of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, Exhale to Inhale provides a powerful, body-based resource for healing from trauma."… read more

Barrier Free Living team members participated in Denim Day (April 26) 2023 attending demonstrations in New York City and by unveiling a quilt made by staff and survivors at its shelter and programs. Denim Day is an annual campaign held in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Team members also attended an April 26 tabling event, sponsored by the… read more

Photo from L to R: Tiffany El-Amin, Program Director at The Kira, Diane Mullins, Resilience Award Recipient, Nicole Branca, Executive Director of New Destiny Housing. Photo above and below: Ben Gabbe Photography Former Freedom House resident Diane Mullins received the Resilience Award at the New Destiny Housing 2023 benefit: Building Homes, Building Hope. Accepting the award at the April 20 benefit, Ms. Mullins thanked Freedom House saying "Freedom House connected me to… read more

Barrier Free Living's Occupational Therapy (OT) Program Manager Simone Allen has been named the 2023 Purple Ribbon Award winner in the category of Outstanding Healthcare Professional. "I am so honored to be the recipient of the Purple Ribbon Award for Outstanding Healthcare Professional!" says Simone. "It's so wonderful to see that the hard work that takes place behind the scenes at Barrier Free Living doesn't go unnoticed, and I know… read more

https://vimeo.com/818374516… read more

Inspired by Barrier Free Living's (BFL) work with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities, artist Kitty reached out to the agency this winter ready to make a difference. This spring she will be creating a colorful wall mural at BFL's Freedom House domestic violence shelter. And this March, she is sharing her incredible talents (photos featured above and below) at the New York City art show INTER-RITUALS: Between Materiality and… read more

Tenant's at Barrier Free Living's supportive housing program (BFLA) in the Bronx showcased artwork "exploring past, present and future" at an event held in the community room this March. Participants worked with BFLS's occupational therapy team to create expressive pieces that included varied mediums, from painted pottery to plants and hand painted rearview mirrors. BFL works with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities at… read more

  Adults and kids living at Barrier Free Living's BFLA Apartments supportive housing program in the Bronx celebrated Black History Month with an art show and exhibit. During March, BFLA's newly renovated kid's learning center hosted a series of educational and art activities where the children learned about the life and works of artists Jean Michel Basquiat and… read more

A supporter and collaborator offering weaving classes to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities at our programs, the former SAORI Arts has a new name! BFL is grateful to be featured on the group's partner webpage. SAORI shares: We founded SAORI Arts NYC in 2015 to bring the unique philosophy of SAORI weaving to people of all ages with developmental, physical, or mental disabilities or chronic illness… read more

For the third year in a row, survivors of domestic violence with disabilities at Barrier Free Living’s (BFL) programs received gorgeous gift bags prepared by the Valentine Community Project. The project delivered 160 gift bags to BFL.  Overall the project delivered gift bags to 548 residents at 15 shelters for people fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking Emily Valentine Sottile shares how the project came to be: “The Valentine Community Project is a community… read more

Barrier Free Living's supportive housing program in the Bronx hosted a community-building holiday event for tenants this month. In addition to a "winter wonderland" scene set up for the kids to take photos on the roof garden, tenants were given gingerbread house kits during the gathering which featured a buffet. Barrier Free Living works with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities at our shelter and programs. Learn how to make a… read more