New Visions Blog

New York City’s Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) joined Barrier Free Living (BFL), Alembic Community Development and Foxy Management to celebrate the grand opening of Barrier Free Living Residences for Families and Individuals in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. The project reflects the City’s ongoing efforts to expand supportive housing for its most vulnerable residents, and is BFL’s… read more

Over a dozen volunteers from Yahoo participated in Barrier Free Living's Wellness Day event at the Transitional Housing program this September. Working with The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Yahoo funded the event and supported the BFL team, serving a wellness luncheon and running a gardening "de-stress" workshop. A nurse was also on hand, offering healthy living tips and taking residents' blood pressure.… read more

Join the 4th annual Big Apple American Sign Language Festival on Sunday October 4th at Luna Park in Coney Island. There will be about 3,000 or more Deaf, hard of hearing, new signers, and even kids in attendance as expected as other hearing spectators who will visit Luna Park for rides will be integrated in the public.… read more

The Barrier Free Living Speakers Bureau in partnership with the Voices of Women Organizing Project (VOW) will hold its "We are Victors!” event in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness on October 8. We Are Victors will "share the voices and stories of survivors who are Victors in reclaiming their lives free of abuse."  The event will feature speakers, a dance and the song “Take A Walk In My Shoes.” Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. To confirm your attendance or for further details… read more

Words I Wheel By and the Disabled food have teamed up for an event featuring a visit to the Wafels & Dinges factory. Wafels & Dinges food trucks sell Belgian waffles around NYC. There will be a tour of the factory and fresh waffles served afterwards. The tour and waffle cost $10 (Paid in cash at the factory on the day of the tour). When: Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (2:30 to allow enough time for Access-a-Ride users… read more

We had the honor of visiting Barrier Free Living Apartment resident LeVar Jeffers the day he moved  into his new studio. The joy and sense of celebration was palatable. “I came from the streets. This is a new start to get my life together,” says LeVar. Now that he has a safe home, LeVar plans to pursue computer repair school and study martial arts… read more

The Sergeants Benevolent Association is encouraging officers, along with their friends and family members, to take pictures of homeless New Yorkers and post them online.  Christy Parque, Cornell William Brooks, Akhil Reed Amar, and Jeanne Theoharis discuss this campaign and consider more positive alternatives for supporting homeless people… read more

Members of Barrier Free Living's Occupational Therapy team were on  hand at the August 10 Boriken Health Fair, sharing information about the agency's programs. The Health Fair was held at 2265 Third Ave (at 123rd Street) in honor of National Health Center Week. The fair included health screenings, participation by local organizations and featured music and giveaways… read more

In a message to members, Allison Sesso | Executive Director, Human Services Council honored and celebrated the life of Fred Scaglione. Sesso wrote: "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Fred Scaglione, founder and editor of the New York Nonprofit Press (NYNP). Fred had been quietly battling cancer for some time and passed away earlier this week. We understand there will be services on Saturday, August 15th in, or near, his home town in Chatam, NY. We will send… read more

Inspired by "A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama's Vision for Our World" Julie Pasqual and some friends created "The Giving Group" and set out to turn their compassionate energy outward. Their generosity found a home at BFL's Freedom House this summer, where the group created a "Holiday in July" party for the domestic violence shelter's families. Pasqual has been donating her time doing yoga classes at Freedom… read more

Summer Streets is DOT’s annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. On three consecutive Saturdays in August, nearly seven miles of NYC's streets are opened for people to play, run, walk and bike. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation for New Yorkers, their friends and family. In 2014, more than 300,000 people took advantage of the open streets. Summer Streets extends from the Brooklyn Bridge… read more

Geek News reports: For all the technological advancements we’re seeing in this digital age, little consideration has been given to those who cannot see what appears on a smooth, pixelated screen. There’s text-to-speech and the spotty accuracy of Siri commands, but the lack of devices supporting Braille and their cost, which can be upwards of $3,000, has hampered literacy among the blind community. However, a South Korean start-up company wants to change the statistics and empower the visually impaired with Braille-supported… read more

The United Spinal Association and other disability advocates held a roll-in on Thursday, July 30 at noon in front of Uber’s Manhattan office. The United Spinal Association reports that: Uber has not one wheelchair-accessible taxi, even though it has more than 19,000 vehicles in New York City.* They are asking Uber to stop discriminating against the community in New York City and nationwide. * UberWAV is not a provider of accessible taxi services. It merely forwards your request for an accessible taxi to non-Uber companies… read more

The ICS Artists on Wheels Gallery is featuring an exhibit at 25 Elm Place, 5th Floor (between Livingston & Fulton Streets), Downtown Brooklyn. The ICS Artists on Wheels Gallery and Creative Writing Circle programs provide free classes, materials and studio space to any New York City resident with a physical disability. The program works with  New Yorkers whose lives have been changed forever by a stray bullet, a stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, an accident or… read more

In celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the passing of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the "Gaining Access: The New York City Disability Rights Movement" exhibition looks at the growth of the Disabilities Rights Movement in New York City. Gaining Access" is curated by historian Warren Shaw, and presented in partnership between the Brooklyn Historical Society and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.  It will run through October 23, 2015 at the Brooklyn Historical Society. The Brooklyn Historical Society… read more

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), led by the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, BRIC FLIXis very proud to announce its partnership with ReelAbilities. The nation's largest disability film festival, ReelAbilities is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. On Tuesday, June 9 at 7PM, JCC Manhattan, ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival… read more

Life Rolls On needs volunteers in four different roles. Please read through these roles before signing up! THEY WILL SURF AGAIN ROCKAWAY BEACH NEW YORK Saturday July 18 2015 / 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Early Morning Set-up, 6:30 am to 8:00 am Don't have time to spend the whole day at an event? No problem! Volunteer for Early Morning Set-up. This role is so important...it sets the tone for the whole event, helping it… read more

Join keynote speaker Simi Linton and leaders in the dance and disability communities to discuss the state of the art form. What are the opportunities for educating, developing, collaborating with and presenting disabled artists? How can disability advance innovation, excellence, and impact in dance? This free, day-long series of convening focuses on a future for dance created and experienced with disabled New Yorkers. Commemorating the 25th anniversary year of the Americans… read more

The HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, with flicks ranging from the cheeky classic The Poseidon Adventure to Director Terrence Malick's masterful debut film Badlands, has accessible options available for visitors A Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) service provides open-captions and Assistive Listening Devices are available for each film. visitors are asked to go to the projection trailer on the Upper Terrace for more information… read more

Come celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with NYC Parks! In Invitation to Dance 23-year-old Simi Linton was injured while hitchhiking to Washington to protest the war in Vietnam. Suddenly a young disabled college student, she confronted discrimination she couldn't have imagined before. Simi emerges as a resourceful activist, and in time realizes that love, sexuality, and dance can once again be central to her life. McCarren Park, Brooklyn NY. Sunday, July 5, 2015 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Info. here.… read more

The NY Daily News Reports: In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, Mayor de Blasio is declaring July as “Disability Pride Month” and hosting a parade to commemorate the landmark legislation. The month-long commemoration and the parade will be annual occurrences on the city calendar, the mayor’s press office said. U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who authored the ADA, will be the July 12th parade’s grand marshal… read more

On Monday, June 29th, FPWA hosted a Ribbon Cutting and Open House to welcome member agencies, elected officials, partners and friends to its new office and conference center. Special guests Mayor Dinkins; Deputy Mayor Richard Buery; Craig McKay, Chair of the FPWA Board Real Estate Committee; Jeremy Kohomban of Children's Village, a founding FPWA Member Agency; Jeffrey Lee of the New York City Economic Development Corporation; FPWA Faith & Justice Fellow Pastor Brian Ellis Gibbs; and representatives from the Governor's Office, Senator Squadron's… read more

Independence Care System's (ICS) Windows To The World art show opens Friday, July 10 from 3pm to 8pm  in Brooklyn, NY. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. The event is held at ICS Brooklyn at 25 Elm Place, 5th Fl. Photo at top: artist Annalisa Rivera. Photo below: artist Keisha Hinds. Photo featured on Pressroom page, top: Kem Rambharose. RSVP: 877-8427 or [email protected]. The ICS Artists… read more

BFL's Supportive Housing team attended the 40th Precinct Community Council Annual Fellowship Breakfast. Also in attendance were: Gabriel De Jesus, 40th Precinct Community Council President; Aurelia Greene, Deputy Borough President; George Rodriguez, Community Board 1 President; Lorenzo Johnson, Deputy Inspector 40th Precinct. The 40th Precinct Community Council  Fellowship Breakfast 2015 Honorees were: NYPD Awards : PO Omar Habib PO Rostislav Kipervaser PO Donald Sehl PO Fabio Checo PO Moises Garcia PO Thomas Warkenthein PO Raymond Gonzalez PO Danny Lopez Leuitenant Besemah Rogers PO Reina Marrero Community Awards Honorees: Alice Simmons- Community Board #1 Member Elizabeth… read more

Former BFL Occupational Therapy Intern Leatal Cohen and her husband Eleor gave back this month, donating supplies for the Freedom House shelter's Spa Day events.… read more

Barrier Free Living's Supportive Housing program in the Bronx continues to accept applications as the facility moves toward an opening date. There are 50 units of Family Supportive Housing and 70 units of Single’s Supportive Housing. Learn more.… read more

Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden Domestic Violence program held a Caregivers Celebration on June 18. The event was to honor "all caregivers--parents, family, friends and foremost all the people who have cared for us and our ability to care for ourselves." Program Director Georgette Delinois (pictured at far left) kicked off the program which include an interpretive dance performance, a display of crochet work and a lunch buffet.… read more

The Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing held a rally Friday, June 12th  at 11:00am at Governor’s Cuomo’s NYC office (633 Third Avenue –between 40th & 41st Streets) in support of a new statewide supportive housing agreement. BFL's new Supportive Housing team attended. Pictured, from left are Program Director Thomas Obrzut and Director of Social Services Denise Shaw The Campaign is calling 35,000 units of supportive housing for individuals and families with special needs over the next 10… read more

Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden domestic violence program has filmed a video in American Sign Language to explain domestic violence and inform survivors with hearing loss how to seek assistance. Development of this video is an activity of BFL's 2012 Office on Violence Against Women disability grant program award, which focuses on building capacity to serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing survivors. Above photo: Secret Garden intern Morgane Vincent… read more

Working with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, BFL welcomed 24 volunteers to the Transitional Housing program as part of Aon Global Service Day on June 11, 2015. The hard-working volunteers painted and refurbished a lounge… read more