New Visions Blog

Catch Theater Breaking Through Barriers The Other Plays before it closes, March 26. Featured playwrights include Neil LaBute, Bekah Brunstetter, Lameece Isaaq, Dennis A. Allen II,Tatiana Rivera and others, writing about what it’s like to be “other” in our society. Theater Breaking Through Barriers, is the only Off-Broadway theater, and one of the few professional theaters in the country, dedicated to advancing actors and writers with disabilities and changing the image of people with… read more

Team members from Barrier Free Living's domestic violence programs were present at the Hunter College Community and Social Justice Fair on March 16, 2017. The Fair introduces the Hunter College community to a number of non-profit organizations "that work for the rights of women, girls, youth, workers, immigrants and LGBTQ communities." The Fair enables non-profit organizations to do outreach on campus; inform students about internships and volunteer work; disseminate information about programs and services; and encourage students to become more socially engaged… read more

This March, Barrier Free Living’s (BFL) Freedom House domestic violence program created an American Sign Language (ASL) video as a way to share information with arriving Deaf and Hard of Hearing residents. The film, to be used internally by Freedom House, is supported by the Office on Violence Against Women Disabilities Grant Program. Barrier Free Living's Director of Communications Scott Hess shot the film, working with consultant and long time collaborator Blake Drummond of Diagonal Media.… read more

LeShan Gaulman, program director at Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing program has contributed a chapter to the newly published book  Fatherhood in America: Social work perspectives on a changing society. Gaulman, who also teaches Introduction to Social Work at Lehman College, wrote a chapter entitled Homeless Fathers.… read more

Two team members from Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter will present at the End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) conference in Orlando in April. Cynthia Amodeo and Aida Colon will present "Barriers to Seeking Safety" discussing barriers people with disabilities face when coming into shelter and what the Freedom House team is doing to overcome those barriers. The EVAWI International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Systems Change is April 18 - 20, 2017 in Orlando, FL.… read more

  The Occupational Therapy team at Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing program for people with disabilities organized an event to celebrate life and love this February. Residents of the shelter gathered in the main dining hall to mingle with staff, decorate cupcakes and enjoy classic disco.… read more

    Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter held a Celebration of Love event in February for residents. The event included special activities for both adults and kids and included gift bags, baking and music.… read more

Social Workers from Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden domestic violence program did a presentation on the intersection of domestic violence and disability to 15 Administration for Children's Services (ACS) workers In January. The interactive presentation aimed to raise awareness related to ACS practices.… read more

Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing shelter for formerly homeless people with disabilities has launched a resident newsletter for winter 2017. Created by the program's Occupational Therapy department, the staff and the residents contributed to the newsletter which focuses on "overcoming challenges." One resident states that "to overcome challenges they must be looked at like obstacles rather than roadblocks." The newsletter is quarterly. Upload the PDF of the newsletter here: bfl-th-newsletter-2… read more

Join the Human Services Council (HSC) for the New York City kickoff of the Restore Opportunity Now Campaign on February 2, 2017, at Ivan Shapiro House, 459 West 46th Street at 1:00 pm. The Restore Opportunity Now Campaign is a statewide effort to call for crucial investments and systemic changes in New York's nonprofit human services sector, which provides essential services to combat poverty and inequality across New York State. The campaign… read more

The Pajama Program donated over 50 pairs of pajamas to the kids living at Barrier Free Living's domestic violence programs this winter. The Pajama Program sets a goal for "every child to feel the love and comfort that lets them escape into peaceful sleep, and to awaken empowered with the energy and resilience that can change every one of their days for the better. We accomplish this with the rather… read more

Barrier Free Living Apartments elected the 2017 Tenant Advisory Board this January. "We want to bring our community together as a whole. Making our environment where we live a better place for all us moving forward. Somewhere we can feel safe and happy to come home to," said Gevenia Hernandez, the newly elected President (photo above). "I would like us to do more plays with the kids, more outings as a community and… read more

Team members at two Barrier Free Living programs are adding educational related activities to their agendas this winter. LeShan Gaulman, program director at the agency's Transitional Housing program for formerly homeless people with disabilities, has begun teaching Introduction to Social Work at Lehman College. "It has always been my desire to teach on a collegiate level, it was all part of my career path, " says LeShan. "Time management will be an important factor in this process. I know that it… read more

Larry Wilson, who recently joined the Freedom House team as a social worker, has always been keen on making a difference. Wilson, who started his journey with the agency as an intern at Freedom House, is excited to be pursuing his goals and to "learn about family dynamics in the context of trauma." When he's not working, Wilson loves to read, and hopes one day to make it to Burning Man. We caught up… read more

Social workers at the Barrier Free Living Apartments supportive housing complex in the Bronx continue to work with tenants to achieve new life goals in 2017. David Kwon worked with 4 tenants in 2016, using the crowd funding platform Benevolent. The goal of Benevolent is"to bring dignity and self-determination to both sides of the giving equation, illuminating the realities of life on the edge of sustainability." Cherita, a 56-year-old BFL Apartments tenant who has overcame the trauma of homelessness, domestic… read more

A young resident at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter shared a poem of hope and healing to start the new year. The "Silent Girl" is part of a family that experienced domestic violence and abuse prior to finding safe shelter at Freedom House in 2016. The family received therapy and support services and plans to move into a permanent home in 2017.… read more

The Occupational Therapy team at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden domestic violence program kicked off 2017 with a host of weekly empowerment groups for consumers, from Money Matters to Self Care. The monthly cycle of groups include Creatively Empowered, Money Matters, Beauty and Self Care, and Movement and Fitness. The groups provide a "safe and open environment for participants to learn steps to improve self-esteem and stress management skills. It allows clients to gain… read more

Disability Pride NYC will hold a Jazz Legends for Disability Pride fund raiser on Thursday, January 5th, 2017, 6:30-9:30pm at The Quaker Friends Meeting Hall 15 Rutherford Place, New York City. Performers include: Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Buster Williams, Jimmie Cobb, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, Louis Hayes, Carl Allen, George Coleman, Jon Faddis, Peter Bernstein, Eric Alexander, Joe Farnsworth, Buster Williams, Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes, Kenny Washington, Peter Washington, John Webber, Donald Vega… read more

Spread The Sparkle hosted a holiday event for Barrier Free Living on December 25, providing a sumptuous dinner buffet, a visit from Santa and gifts for nearly 180 attending. Tenants of Barrier Free Living apartments, residents of the agency's Freedom House domestic violence shelter and consumers of BFL's Secret Garden domestic violence program attended the festivities. The day's events included a photo booth, Santa Claus, caroling and more. Spread The… read more

NYC Metro RID will hold a Holiday Happy Hour on December 15th  at Slante Bar (304 Bowery NYC) at 6pm and welcomes all in the Deaf community. The mission of Metro RID is to initiate, sponsor, promote and execute practices that will further the profession of the interpretation of American Sign Language and English and the transliteration of English. For Questions, please contact Danielle Piccirilli at [email protected]… read more

Kids living at Barrier Free Living Apartments performed a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving play at the complex's community event in November. The play kicked off the BFL Apartments' community Thanksgiving dinner, and drew a crowd of enthused parents, friends and staff. Tenants and staff pitched in to create the magical set, sew and decorate costumes and set the stage for an unforgettable show. The theatre group hopes to do another show in the near future. BFL Apartments offers permanent homes for survivors of… read more

The National Action Network on behalf of Rev. Al Sharpton is hosting a Thanksgiving event on Thursday, November 24th for homeless- and/or individuals/families living in shelters. The free event is at 106 145th St., NY NY 10039 from 11am-3pm… read more

Cathryn Ana Glenday, MPH, MA, LMHC, is a psychotherapist and health educator focusing on disability mental health in Albuquerque. She has  been writing poetry since grade school. She is also working on a memoir about her own life and the lives of other disabled women she has  encountered as a medical student and grad student in clinical psychology. She shares a poem, below. Desert Fortress High above Albuquerque, behind the barbed wire fence, The isolated desert… read more

Hearts of Gold donated bath and shower gift bags to the pregnant moms at Barrier Free Living Freedom House domestic violence shelter. The mission of Hearts of Gold, which has supported Freedom House in various capacities over the past few years, is "re-imagining the future of homeless mothers and their children, together by helping them to become confident and self-sufficient as they prepare to transition out of New York City shelter… read more

BFL Apartments held a fun and festive community Halloween party for tenants and staff on October 25. The event included lunch, a costume contest and activities for the kids. BFL Apartments in the Bronx offers permanent homes for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and veterans with disabilities and includes on site counseling, skill-building… read more

The NYC Commission on Human Rights is an accessible resource for New Yorkers with questions, concerns, and inquiries about their rights under the City Human Rights Law. Looking to add more channels of contact between its agency and partners, community members, and New Yorkers of all walks of life, this Friday will be the first #AskHumanRightsNYC Twitter Question & Answer session. Have any questions about discrimination in housing, employment, or public accommodations; the Commission… read more

Helping Hands for the Disabled of NYC is holding its annual Halloween Party on Monday, October 31, 6pm to 8pm at the Hudson Guild, 441 W. 26th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue. The cost is $10, small sandwiches and special treats will be served.  Register to attend by calling 718-606-9712.  Helping Hands for the Disabled NYC is a non-profit organization which has… read more

Photo: BFL's Aeilushi Mistry (at left) with Diana Reyna , Deputy Brooklyn Borough President The Second Annual Surviving & Thriving event took place Friday October 21 from 10AM to 4PM at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Jeralemon St., Brooklyn NY. The event was a "celebration of courage, resilience, and strength from survivors and organizations that are thriving in our communities." The day included breakfast, relaxation and rejuvenation activities and a host of domestic violence organizations… read more

Art made by the kids from Barrier Free Living's (BFL) domestic violence programs was on display at the TD Bank's Bring Change Event Friday Oct. 7 in NYC. BFL works with people with disabilities — both survivors of domestic violence and homeless men, women and children — to thrive in safe, supportive communities. Team members from BFL were on hand to talk about the agency's work, as the bank staff encouraged patrons to… read more

While able-bodied actors portray 95 percent of actors with a disability, such is not the case with ABC’s new comedy “Speechless”. The show follows a family of five with a special needs child, and Micah Fowler, a teen who has cerebral palsy, plays the character in the comedy. Show creator Scott Silveri loosely based “Speechless” on his experience growing up with an older brother with a disability. The first episode features… read more