New Visions Blog

Barrier Free Living team member Nicolyn Plummer will present at Safe Horizon on  July 16, 24 and 31  on topics related to Deafness and the deaf community. Nicolyn, who is a Social Worker and Coordinator of Outreach & Advocacy Deaf Services  at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden & Freedom House shelter will present to 200 of Safe Horizon's Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) advocates who work in each NYPD precinct throughout the city. She will present on: Understanding Deafness Understanding… read more

Reposted from the No More Blog. The following was co-written by James and Leigh Ann. For far too long, people with disabilities and their allies have been invisible to mainstream society, forced to live in the shadows within our communities, and given little opportunity or a platform to speak out on issues we care about. This painful reality has been especially damaging when it comes to sexual assault. While national movements like #MeToo have opened the door to establishing a… read more

Residents and Occupational Therapy interns at BFL's Freedom House domestic violence shelter worked together this spring to bring new life to the shelter garden. "Residents gain self-confidence and a sense of control as they see the decisions they make lead to real changes in the aesthetic of the yard and the growing of their seeds," says Bella, a member of the OT team. Freedom House offers safe haven to families, along with… read more

Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden community based domestic violence program has begun a new group focusing on the Immigrant Latina survivor of intimate partner violence. Stemming from research conducted by Catherine Marrs-Fuschel, Secret Garden has adopted portions of a curriculum, “Si, yo Puedo.” This program is meant to work with the immigrant Latina to understand aspects of healthy vs unhealthy relationships and works to improve self-awareness and self-esteem in the Latina immigrant… read more

The newly launched Give One organization worked with the tenant’s Garden Club at BFL Apartments this April to spruce up the 6th floor roof. The volunteers and the tenants cleaned the roof, planted seeds and flowers and set up the area for spring. "Watching the tenants work side by side with the volunteers was an amazing experience and a powerful example of community building," says Scott Hess, Director of Communications who… read more

When Bethelihem and her family arrived at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter in 2014, the only thing on her mind was safety.  Not long into her stay, she discovered the power of helping others as part of her own healing journey.  Today, as a senior at  Hunter College of City University of New York (CUNY) pursuing a Sociology degree, Bethelihem decided that she wanted to give… read more

Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter expressed gratitude for recent toy donations, and was featured in the Second Chance June 2018 Toy Blog Toy Tales: Giving Comfort and Expressing Feelings (below).  Our ongoing series of #ToyTales goes beyond the day of toy drop-off and takes a look at how donated toys change the lives and outlook of those who receive them. Today's Toy Tales is about Freedom House/Barrier Free Living NYC, a fully accessible domestic abuse… read more

Contributor Sara Eldridge, LMSW, is a Senior Social Worker at Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter.  Sara is a licensed social worker who received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2015.  Sara has been a social worker at Freedom House since 2015, where she provides individual and group counseling to adults, children and adolescents. Prior to Freedom House she worked with youth in alternatives… read more

The Secret Garden team offers a variety of workshops and trainings from Crisis Intervention & Domestic Violence to Sexual and Domestic Violence in the Deaf Community. View the full DV workshops and training list (PDF). Our team can tailor our presentations based on your needs. We provide workshops to people from all areas including service providers, community groups, students and clients/consumers. To find out more about booking a workshop please email [email protected]. We look forward to sharing our expertise with you… read more

Contributor Sara Eldridge, LMSW, is a Senior Social Worker at Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter. Sara is a licensed social worker who received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2015.  Sara has been a social worker at Freedom House since 2015, where she provides individual and group counseling to adults, children and adolescents. Prior to Freedom House she worked with youth in alternatives… read more

Contributor Valerie is a Social Worker (LMSW) at Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden Non-Residential Domestic Violence Program. Often, when we talk about reasons a person might not leave a Domestic Violence situation, we think of children, finances, safety, and a place to live. However, less often we think of pets.  Just as much as fellow humans are family members, so are our furry friends. Knowing the strong emotional bond people have with their pets… read more

Barrier Free Living's Chief Program Officer, Cynthia Amodeo, was part of the Support Center's 2018 Leadership Collaborative this spring (photo above) which was offered in partnership with American Express. "As a leader in a non profit there are a lot of demands on your time. This program is important to step away from the day to day and evaluate your leadership style, learn how to fine tune your skills, and network… read more

     Barrier Free Living Apartments had a summer kick-off BBQ on June 7, for tenants and staff at the supportive housing complex in the Bronx. The BFL team grilled and served a buffet. Music, dancing and gift bags were handed out. BFL Apartments offer fifty family units for families with a disabled head of household who is… read more

Drawn to Barrier Free Living's mission to support people with disabilities, Rachel Oliner shares with us her initial goals as  the new Coordinator of Family Services at Freedom House domestic violence shelter. BFL: What drew you to apply at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House? Rachel: I have always wanted to work with survivors of violence, particularly with women and children. I also felt that the staff was close-knit and respectful of each other, and… read more

https://vimeo.com/274112525… read more

Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden community based domestic violence program continues its "Tiramisu" Occupational Therapy groups for participants on Thursday, 6/14 and 6/21 from 10am-12pm. Tiramisu means "you lift me up" in Italian. The theme of the group is to build self-empowerment; activities will include arts and crafts and open discussions of inspirational videos and quotes we will analyze. For more information about Secret Garden and this group call (212)… read more

Barrier Free Living (BFL) celebrates LGBTQ Pride month this June. BFL works with members of the LGBTQ community year round in our shelters and programs. The month of June was chosen for LGBTQ Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBTQ people have had in the world. Learn more about NYC Pride month… read more

Joanne M. Cherisma, author of  I Never Thought I Would Be A Statistic, will have a Book Signing and Launch Party on June 23, 2016 from 5:30p.m. to 7:30 at Keiko Studios located at 212-26 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica, NY 11428. The author shares her testimony of how she overcame an abusive relationship.… read more

This May,  Theater of War Productions, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, presented a dramatic reading of two scenes from Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winning play, A Streetcar Named Desire for an audience of  middle and high school students. Although Barrier Free Living’s primary focus is providing direct services to survivors of domestic violence with a disability, the agency is… read more

Blog contributor Julia Alberino. Julia retired in 2011 after more than thirty years as a health care administrator in both the public and private sectors. She was a frequent speaker at professional conferences, and co-founder of an advocacy group that worked to maintain and improve services for Medicaid beneficiaries, including elderly and disabled individuals. The first weekend in May was an exciting time for people with disabilities, their caregivers, relatives, friends, and advocates. That… read more

Barrier Free Living’s Deaf Services team works with survivors of domestic violence at Secret Garden, our community based domestic violence program and Freedom House, our domestic violence crisis shelter. The Deaf Services team includes deaf, ASL fluent social workers and case managers. All services are free and confidential for women and men ages 16 and over who have experienced emotional, physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse. Services include… read more

https://vimeo.com/271126831… read more

Sara Eldridge, LMSW, Assistant Director of Social Services at Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter is a licensed social worker who received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2015.  Sara has been a social worker at Freedom House since 2015, where she provides individual and group counseling to adults, children and adolescents. Prior to Freedom House she worked with youth in alternatives… read more

Members of the BFL Apartments' community garden club kicked off the planting season, supported in part by a grant from the City Gardens Club of NYC. BFL Apartments is a supportive housing complex in the Bronx, providing permanent homes to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families, as well as veterans with disabilities. The club was created with the Barrier Free Living occupational therapy team in 2017, as a… read more

The New Jersey Coalition to End Sexual Assault (NJCASA) is hosting a 5K event in Asbury Park, NJ Saturday May 5, 2018 as a way to support statewide social change efforts to ensure survivors are supported and affirmed. Check-in begins at 8:00 AM in Asbury Park at Convention Hall; corner of 5th and Ocean Avenue. Event begins at 9:00 AM. Info.… read more

After 28 years of operation, Barrier Free Living’s Transitional Housing program closed its doors on April 30, 2018. Barrier Free Living Founder, President/CEO Paul Feuerstein reflects on this ground-breaking program’s successes and challenges working with people with disabilities in New York City. The First Of Its Kind The ribbon cutting ceremony for Barrier Free Living’s Transitional Housing program. Paul Feuerstein, fourth from left . Our Transitional Housing Program opened in November of… read more

Barrier Free Living was part of the  Silent Tears: Disability, Violence And Resilience of Women Survivors Globally multi-media exhibition and panel on April 24 at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Barrier Free Living Apartments resident Gigi spoke at the event, and Barrier Free Living Secret Garden program director Jules (in photo above) was on the panel of speakers. Read more about the event here.  View the BFL Minute with Silent Tears… read more

Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden domestic violence program will be participating in the Next Steps Fair on Thursday, April 26, part of Turn Off The Violence Week at St. John's University.  Turn Off the Violence Week includes the Clothesline Project, and is a week of empowerment and awareness regarding sexual violence in the community. The Clothesline Project started in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It… read more

Blog contributor Julia Alberino. Julia retired in 2011 after more than thirty years as a health care administrator in both the public and private sectors. She was a frequent speaker at professional conferences, and co-founder of an advocacy group that worked to maintain and improve services for Medicaid beneficiaries, including elderly and disabled individuals. We’re a little more than halfway through Autism Awareness Month, and I’ve been thinking about a remarkable young… read more

A host of events are planned for Denim Day in New York City Wednesday, April 25th.  Denim Day NYC is a coalition of community agencies, elected officials, students, and volunteers united to promote awareness around the issue of sexual assault. Denim Day grew out of a case in which a rape conviction was overturned because the judge reasoned the victim’s tight jeans meant that… read more