New Visions Blog

HSC's weekly radio show, Human Services News and Views, is on every Thursday at 6 pm on WVOX 1460AM. If you missed our old podcasts, you can listen to them on our website. Download this week's podcast here.  This week, Council Member Carlos Menchaca discusses the new City Council Initiative to create municipal ID cards for undocumented immigrants. Ray López, Director, Environmental Health & Family Asthma Program for LSA Family Health Service… read more

Pace University presents: SUMMER WORKSHOPS 2014 For kids with Special Needs. Week long Workshops in July, 10am to 4pm, Monday-Friday, No Tech Experience Necessary! Create amazing things with Technology by being exposed to software and programming—and learning 21st century tech skills. Each week consists of 15 students wih a high 2:1 instructor ratio. Workshops include: experienced tech and teachers, guest lecturers by people in the tech field, free time to experiment with… read more

DNAInfo NY Reports: New Jersey-based for-profit company deposited a collection of bright pink clothing donation bins across the neighborhood in the past few days — including on properties where owners said they didn't give permission. About half a dozen Our Neighborhood Recycling bins appeared on East Broadway, Rutgers Street, Norfolk Street and other spots last weekend, as first reported by Bowery Boogie. The company’s name is painted on the front of the bins, along with the words “Clothes, Shoes, Drop” on… read more

Jana Mackey left a legacy of courage and strength. She spent her entire life fighting for justice and equality for all. Jana dedicated her life to social change and making this world a better place. Jana’s Light Will Shine was written to encourage every one of us to carry on where Jana left off and find the courage to defeat injustice. We don’t have to let the world tell us who to be. We can be the feet and hands of change… read more

During the 2014 summer all agency Town Hall meeting, Innovation Awards were presented to Aida Colon (Freedom House, pictured) for her creation of the Dare to Dream Event, and Aaron Scott (Transitional Housing) for his out of the box thinking during recent corporate volunteer days. CEO Paul Feuerstein presented the awards, applauding the team members' creativity and ability to stretch the boundaries of traditional thinking on the job.… read more

The New York Times reports: AFTER spending two years studying services for domestic violence survivors, I was surprised to realize that one of the most common barriers to women’s safety was something I had never considered before: the high value our culture places on two-parent families. Read the article.… read more

The award winning indie film titled 1 in 3 about domestic violence hopes to have a screening at the AMC Loews in Kips Bay on June 30. 1 in 3 relates to the fact that 1 in 3 women have or will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. The film looks at that staggering statistic. Ophelia Metz is one of those… read more

Gerald Francese has been elected Barrier Free Living Chairman of the Board. He had previously served as Vice-Chair. Mr. Francese concentrates his legal practice in financial services, private equity, corporate finance, and bank and investment advisor regulation.  Mr. Francese has managed businesses and legal teams involved in all aspects of investing and investment management in over 40 countries across the Americas, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific.… read more

Working with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, BFL welcomed 25 volunteers to the Transitional Housing program as part of AON Global Service Day on June 12, 2014. The hard-working volunteers painted and refurbished a lounge, offices and a garden area for residents of the shelter.… read more

Barrier Free Living welcomes new Board Member Bernard M. Holand, CPA, PFS. Mr. Holand applies over thirty-five years of technical experience and practical judgment to counsel companies from start up ventures to established enterprises. As a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), he counsels clients on risk and investment management, retirement, insurance, tax and estate planning. Mr. Holand's diverse base of clients is comprised of professional service firms, broker dealers, other financial service companies… read more

Working with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Barrier Free Living (BFL) welcomed volunteers from Deloitte for Deloitte Impact Day on June 6, 2014. This year marked Deloitte’s 15th annual IMPACT Day, a celebration of a longstanding commitment to communities. Tens of thousands of Deloitte personnel volunteer on more than 800 service projects in 80 communities. The hard-working group at BFL painted walls, hung new blinds and art and… read more

The Red Cross Club at New Exploration Into Science Technology + Math high school donated books to the programs of Barrier Free Living. Books will be given to the children of participants at the Secret Garden Domestic Violence program for summer reading… read more

Over several months, Andres Serrano has engaged with homeless individuals in New York City, creating a series of large-scale photographic portraits called Residents of New York, a site-specific public art project which takes a look at the many faces of homelessness and poverty in New York City. Starting May 19 and running for four weeks through June 16, 2014, his photographs will transform distinct locations around Washington Square, including a full occupation of the subway station at West 4th Street as… read more

The Medical Assistance Group from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China, visited Barrier Free Living this May and met with agency CEO/Founder Paul Feuerstein. The group toured the main office and discussed BFL's decades of work with people with disabilities, and the growth and lasting power of the agency's mission.… read more

NPR Reports: Though nearly 20 percent Americans have physical or mental disabilities, studies show that less than 20 percent of medical schools teach their students how to talk with disabled patients about their needs. Read the article.… read more

Dr. Danielle Sheypuk will be a keynote speaker at the 2014 Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) National Conference  Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland June 12th – June 15th. Pictured: Dr. Sheypuk is using… read more

Blogger Jenni Cowley Reports About Substance Abuse Risk As It Relates To Disability. Jenni says she "used to work in health and social care, with service users who battled drug and alcohol addictions." She decided to leave this field some years ago after the birth of her first child and now she's a freelance writer who pens articles on the topics she cares most about. Supportive Accommodation – Reducing the Risks of Substance Abuse Although anyone can develop a dependency on drugs… read more

May 2014: The Link Between Domestic Violence and Pregnancy By Cynthia Amodeo, Director of Family Services, Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter. Cynthia is a licensed mental health counselor who graduated Teachers College, Columbia University with her Master of Education and Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology.  Cynthia has been working at Freedom House since 2008 first as the children’s counselor, then Coordinator and now Director of Family Services.  Prior to Freedom House she worked with children and families impacted by… read more

BFL's Secret Garden staff and participants gathered for the Celebration of Women on May 8. Dame Lori Sutherland (pictured at right with Secret Garden Director Georgette Delinois), hosted the Soulfull Closet event this year which benefited Secret Garden, and was the featured keynote guest. Sutherland wowed the crowd and the participants enjoyed lunch and activities.… read more

View Barrier Free Living's special Mother's Day Message!… read more

Hearts of Gold, which sponsors BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter,  was featured on the May 6th TODAY Show (NBC) in a special segment in honor of Mother’s Day entitled HOPE TO IT. The Hearts of Gold mission is to “foster sustainable change in lifestyle and levels of self-sufficiency for homeless mothers and their children. ” Learn more.… read more

Today, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) voted to enact a 30 cent surcharge in a plan to make 50 percent of all New York City cabs wheelchair accessible by the year 2020. The surcharge will apply to all taxicab rides beginning in the year 2015 in order to fund the purchase and conversion of accessible cabs. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest disability rights organization, lauded the move as an important step… read more

Mentee Recruitment has begun, for Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) 2014 as part of the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD). DMD is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2014. Mentees sought: People with disabilities who are: Vocational job placement clients Experience ready consumers College students High school upper classman (juniors and seniors) Veterans Mentees will learn and experience: Job networking workshops, seminars and opportunities Job shadowing with an employer (mentor), internship development assistance Career exploration and informational interview opportunities with an employer (mentor) Resume… read more

Police Commissioner William J. Bratton was the keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Denim Day NYC Rally on April 23. The event is a citywide initiative to raise awareness about sexual violence. Events are held in all five boroughs and included a panel discussion on "Empowering Men To Speak Out Against Sexual Violence" at Fordham College. More info.… read more

After a brief hiatus, HSC's weekly radio show, Human Services News and Views will return onThursday, May 8 at 5:30 pm on a new station, WVOX 1460AM. The series will be hosted by HSC's Allison Sesso and Michelle Jackson. Fred Scaglione of the New York Nonprofit Press will be joining weekly to discuss the latest events in the world of human services. The program recaps human services news, highlights upcoming events, examines local and national human services issues, and features… read more

In March, Georgette Delinois, Program Director at BFL's Secret Garden, was part of a group from St. Anastasia church in Teaneck NJ that joined the Mobile Mission 4 Haiti on a Medical/Dental/Mental Health mission. The group delivered adult and children’s underwear, dolls, Enfamil, Ensure, Similac, vitamins and energy bars. The doctors saw over two thousand people… read more

Dare To Dream, a Spring Boutique showcasing products created and sold by Freedom House Emergency Shelter Residents drew an overflow crowd of supporters on April 17. This special invite only event, attended by residents of the domestic violence program as well as BFL Board Membes and Community Partners, was the finale of an entrepreneurial workshop and could be the first step towards a lifelong business dream. Guest speakers included New York University… read more

ABC Reports: Amy Purdy had a typical childhood until losing her legs at 19 as a result of Meningitis, which has led to an adulthood of extraordinary accomplishments, including being an inspiration for people with disabilities as a competitor on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. Currently training for the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia, she is the top ranked adaptive snowboarder in the U.S. and three-time World Cup Para-snowboard winner. Purdy is the Co-Founder of Adaptive Action Sports, a non-profit… read more

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) celebrates Fair Housing Month every April to mark the passage of the Fair Housing Act. This law prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex,disability and family status. This year's theme is "Fair Housing Is Your Right: Use It!" HUD and communities around the country are recognizing Fair Housing Month by raising awareness about housing rights. Read more here.… read more

Generous donations throughout the year (like the toys pictured, from supporter Rachel Adams) bring joy and hope to the children of Barrier Free Living's (BFL) Domestic Violence programs. To learn more about how to support, volunteer or participate in BFL events email [email protected].… read more