New Visions Blog

The Harlem Independent Living Center, with support from the AIDS Institute, recently completed production of five brief videos on HIV specifically for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.  These landmark videos are the first of their kind, developed in sign language by and for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. https://vimeo.com/274758309 Each video is available for viewing or downloading by clicking below. The video series covers the following topics: 1.HIV: Know Your Rights… read more

The kids at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter took a special trip to see Broadway's School of Rock, thanks to support from The East Harlem Community Partnership Program/Union Settlement. Staff and 18 kids took in the sites of Time Square and enjoyed a matinee performance of the musical extravaganza, which is about a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school who discovers his students musical… read more

Angela began counseling at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden community-based domestic violence program in 2014, and soon after began exploring the rich opportunities offered through the agency’s Occupational Therapy (OT) department. “Through the help of the occupational therapy team I gained courage and became more open to change,” says Angela, who has a visual impairment. “They provided a safe zone for me to be around people who have the best interest for my… read more

The child care team organized a trip for the young tenants of Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter this month to the Bronx New York Zoo. Celebrating 12 years in New York City, Freedom House is a domestic violence shelter (90-180 day stay) for women, men and children. View a short film about Freedom House here. … read more

The Pursuit of Justice, a film by Greg Gyers and an award winner at this July's Colorado International Activism Film, has launched a new poster for the documentary. The Pursuit of Justice tracks the activities of the Disability and Guardianship Project, launched by Spectrum Institute. The project over the past few years has advocated for guardianship and conservatorship reform in California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Missouri, Michigan, Pennsylvania and many other… read more

The Barrier Free Living Occupational Therapy (OT) team at BFL Apartments in the Bronx NY kick off the new "Fierce Femmes" women's empowerment group Friday, July 27. The purpose of the 4-week group is to promote social participation, physical activity, and positive self-regard. Tenants of BFL Apartments, which serves survivors of domestic violence with disabilities, will learn choreography to a new song each week. Week one will feature choreography to "7/11" by… read more

Barrier Free Living team member Nicolyn Plummer will present on Elder Abuse at the Deaf Wellness and Recreation Center in Brooklyn, NY at 10 a.m. on August 31. Nicolyn is a Senior Social Worker and the Coordinator of Outreach and Advocacy at Barrier Free Living. Learn more here.  Learn more about the Barrier Free Living Deaf Services Team here. Read our recent blog story about Elder Abuse here. … read more

Contributor Sara Eldridge, LMSW, is the Assisstant Director of Social Services 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… read more

Barrier Free Living team member Nicolyn Plummer presented at the 54th Biennial National Association of the Deaf Conference in Hartford, Connecticut on July 5, 2018 Nicolyn co-hosted the session Does Advocacy Still Exist?  with DeAnna Swope. The workshop explored  "the complexities of the systematic injustice that affects those who do harm. We will discuss in depth about how the system fails those who do harm and how do we start from there." Nicolyn is a Senior Social Worker and the Coordinator of Outreach and… read more

Team members of Barrier Free Living marched in this year's Disability Pride Parade in New York City on July 15. Disability Pride Parades were held through the month world wide. The first Disability Pride Day was held in Boston, MA in 1990. For nearly 40 years, Barrier Free Living has been working with people with disabilities, and survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families, at our shelters and… read more

Barrier Free Living team members will march in this year's Disability Pride Parade on July 15. The parade begins in Madison Square Park and marches to Union Square Park. The theme of this year's parade is express yourself! Gather in Madison Square park at 10am for an 11am kick off. More info. here. … read more

Tenants at Barrier Free Living Apartments are coming together to plan a trip to the iconic Coney Island amusement park this summer. Barrier Free Living Apartments offers permanent homes to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities, both singles and families, with support services. Past community building events include a garden club, occupational therapy workshops and a summer staff/tenant BBQ… read more

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 212 533… 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