New Visions Blog

Shinnyo Lantern Floating for Peace will hold a special 'Be A Light For Peace' event Sept. 22 at Trump Rink in New York City's Central Park. For more info. click here.… read more

Hearts of Gold, in conjunction with The Thrifty Hog boutique, sponsored an end of summer event to benefit homeless mothers and children, donating gifts to the kids of Freedom House Emergency Shelter. "The children each received a backpack with supplies, a new pair of sneakers, an outfit, and gift card to Children's Place," said Cynthia Amodeo, Director of Family Services at Freedom House. "At the end there was a red carpet where the families took photos with a… read more

A resident of BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter shares gratitude and hope. "As many of our families, I came from a place of despair, my children and I unsure of what would happen next, had to flee for our lives.  When I came to the pick up location, I was nervous and scared.  This woman approached me so shy like and kind.  She said “Hi, calling my name softly, I said yes” and my new life began.  When I arrived… read more

The Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities (MOPD) and the New York Yankees celebrated  Disability Awareness Night as part of the MOPD’s commemoration of the 23RD Anniversary of the  Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Before the Yankees took on the Los Angeles Angels of  Anaheim at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, MOPD Commissioner Victor Calise and MOPD Deputy  Commissioner/General Counsel Jason Mischel presented a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Mayor Michael… read more

Sarah Baez is an intern at BFL’s Transitional Housing Program. I am currently interning at Barrier Free Living, an organization dedicated to helping individuals with a disability try to live barrier free. In working with this organization, I have been granted the opportunity to gain experience in the public relations field and I am seeing more and more each day that it is possible to live free of barriers and limits, regardless of what obstacles arise. Nature struggles to bring beauty when… read more

The deadline for entries for the 2014 'Picture This International Disability Film Festival' is September 16th, 2013 The festival features films that are about disability and/or films on any subject that were produced, directed and/or written by people with disabilities.  To learn more click here. Last year's Best of Festival winner was Macropolis. MACROPOLIS, an animated film from Flickerpix Joel Simon, is the story of two toys with impairments discarded from a factory production line. Coming to life, they rebel… read more

Russell Schmid from the MTA Para-Transit division held a city bus demo for residents of BFL's Transitional Housing program this month. Highlights included travel rights of people with disabilities and tips and guidance in how to maneuver the city's public transportation system. The on-board presentation focused on: Practice to board the NYC public bus Learn about your rights Learn about disability-accessible stations… read more

Popular Community Bank donated Brooklyn Cyclones Aug. 31 game tickets to the residents of BFL's Transitional Housing shelter, and to the agency's Secret Garden program for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities.… read more

DNAInfo New York reports that: Inspired by her wheelchair-using brother, a Lower East Side woman is developing a website and smartphone app to help people with disabilities make the most of New York City. Jennifer Feinberg, 24, is raising money to developWheel New York, a trip-planning app and site that would identify wheelchair-friendly places and transportation routes while enlisting users to rate the accessibility of popular spots and offer real-time tips. Read the full story here.… read more

A story in the Sydney Morning Herlad reports that: The mother-of-two decided to seek help when she found herself on the floor with hundreds of splinters in her back, unable to walk after being beaten with a mallet and with a raging ex-partner smashing every window in the house. Laura Williams* endured a decade of physical and emotional abuse from her former partner, who punched her in front of her disabled son, hit her with tent poles and eventually disabled her… read more

A free training and workshop addressing attitudes about human sexuality and healthy relationships for people with developmental disabilities will be offered at three different locations on Tuesday, Aug. 27, and Wednesday, Aug. 28. Supporting Healthy Sexuality of Persons with Developmental Disabilities meets from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at First Baptist Church, Streator; with another session offered at the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living in La Salle from 5 to 8 p.m.. The Aug. 28 session is from… read more

Mark O'Meara, Staff Writer, Novogradac & Company reports on Barrier Free Living Aparatments new housing under construction in the Bronx. View a PDF of the story here.… read more

The New York State Office for the  Prevention of Domestic Violence  OPDV Bulletin/Summer 2013 reports on working with Deaf Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence. The story notes that while limited research exists regarding the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence within the Deaf community, agencies that provide Deaf services report that Deaf individuals experience domestic and sexual violence at significantly greater rates than hearing individuals. Ongoing training and education about Deaf culture and communication can build trust with the Deaf… read more

CODES OF HOPE, an  innovative six-week curriculum highlighting the aspects of inter-generational trauma and its relationship to domestic violence, held a graduation event for participants from BFL’s Secret Garden and Freedom House programs. Marcella Goheen and Thea Martinez are co-facilitators of CODES OF HOPE.  Activities include inventive approaches to healing, such as a dinner party theater game exploring the dynamics of power and control.Inspired by The Maria Project’s story of… read more

Moodys, working with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, sponsored BFL's Fiesta Wellness Day at the Transitional Housing Program this August. Fifteen Moody's volunteers worked with BFL's dynamic Occupational Therapy Department to create a carnival style event.  The day featured: gardening workshops; a guide to healthy eating booth; an ask the nurse booth; an all day spa and wellness room; and a yoga class run by Laura Staton of Lulu… read more

DNA Info New York Reports that when Alexandra McArthur gets invited to a party at one of the many East Village bars that have a single step at the entrance, she has a difficult choice to make. McArthur, 25, a former Ms. Wheelchair America who has lived in the East Village for the past two years, cannot navigate over the steps that lead to dozens of the neighborhood's restaurants and shops. Read the full article at DNA Info New York.… read more

Suzanne Hurwitz, Project Coordinator at Initiative for Women with Disabilities (IWD) will be blogging on Tumblr  during her August Trip to Nigeria.  IWD is a Multi-Disciplinary Women's Center: Empowering Women to Pursue a Healthy Lifestyle Suzanne writes: Greeting from Lagos, Nigeria!  I have been warmly welcomed by our partners from Treasureland Health Builders and Disability Policy and Advocacy Initiative who IWD is working with as part of Mobility International USA's Empower Partnship for Inclusive Communities Program. Our goal for… read more

Lulu OT+Yoga joined BFL's Wellness Fiesta this August as a sponsor, and will lead a chair yoga workshop at the vibrant event made possible by a grant from Moody's. Laura Staton of Lulu OT + Yoga will run the workshop. She is a Senior Occupational Therapist at Staten Island University Hospital and teaches Yoga Therapeutics in Park Slope Brooklyn. Laura says: "Yoga possesses therapeutic value at any age and especially… read more

On July 17, 2013, Governor Chris Christie signed into law the New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act (NJ SAFE Act).  New Jersey joins 15 states, the District of Columbia, and a handful of local governments in providing victims of domestic violence or sexual assault with the right to take unpaid leave.   Effective October 1, 2013, the NJ SAFE Act will provide eligible employees with unpaid time off to attend to a variety of matters related to an act of… read more

Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness reports in its Uncensored Summer Issue on BFL Freedom House's vibrant Beyond Freedom Group. In the article Pearl Brownstein writes about the post-shelter support group for DV survivors.  In the article “The Unlikely Homeless: One Woman’s Experience in a Domestic--violence Shelter,” published in the Fall 2012 issue of UNCENSORED, Brownstein wrote about what led her to seek shelter and about the value of her time there. Read the full article here.… read more

Barrier Free Living (BFL) recently celebrated the started of construction on its first permanent supportive housing development that, when complete, will provide 120 apartments with a preference for the disabled and survivors of domestic abuse. Barrier Free Living Apartments, on East 139th Street in the Bronx, is being developed by BFL with collaboration and support from variety of City and State agencies, as well as Alembic Development, Foxy Management, the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Citi Community Capital, and Richman… read more

Tune in this Wednesday (7/17) at 11pm to hear host Allison Sesso interview Fred Scaglione editor of the New York Nonprofit Press discuss the upcoming Mayoral election and the recent "Revitalize, Rethink & Rebuild Neighborhoods." Followed by host Michael Stoller with an interview with Kathy Wylde, CEO of the Partnership for NYC, who will discuss the Partnership's new report on NYC jobs, and how the business community and the nonprofit human services sector can… read more

CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine's Career Expo For People With Disabilities brings industry and government together with people with disabilities who are entry level and professionals in all career disciplines on July 19, 2013 at: 10:00AM - 3:00PM The New Yorker Hotel 481 8th Ave. & 34th Street New York, NY 10001 CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine, established in 1986, is the nation's first and only career-guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities who are at undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels. Each… read more

Project Open House (POH), administered by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), removes architectural barriers in the homes of people with permanent disabilities. This program is designed to increase independence in the activities of daily living, thus helping people with disabilities remain a part of their communities. POH provides an opportunity for many individuals to modify their living environments. Click here to learn more.… read more

HSC’s new Radio Series “Voices of Human Services” on WWRL 1600 AM debuted last week. Listen to the podcast here: http://www.wwrl1600.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=6441417 The show featured an interview by Allison Sesso of Thomas Krever, Executive Director of Hetrick Martin Institute, talking about the organization’s work with LGBTQ youth, followed by a discussion led by Michael Stoller on the disaster response efforts of faith-based human services programs in areas of New York devastated by Hurricane Sandy, with Peter Gudaitis, New York Disaster… read more

The Gingerbread Pimp by Molly Reynolds will be presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in July. Click here for tickets and times. The Gingerbread Pimp is the story of aspiring Broadway actress Coco who thinks she’s found her perfect match in romantic leading man Charlie. But when things take an unexpected turn, she descends into a very real and dangerous world of jealousy and extreme control. A wry… read more

Independence Care System (ICS), dedicated to the health and well being of adults with physical disabilities and senior adults, will hold its annual art show 'Around My Way' on Wednesday July 17, from 4pm-8pm. The exhibit and July 17 reception is free, open to the public, and held at the ICS Brooklyn Center at 25 Elm Place, 5th Floor (cross streets: Livington St. & Fulton Mall.) More Info. call: 718-907-1622… read more

AWARE organized and hosted a Family Carnival for the residents of Freedom House, the country's only domestic violence shelter for disabled residents. The Carnival featured face-painting, glitter tattoos, a photo booth, basketball, live music, cotton-candy and even an appearance by Elmo.  The event hosted nearly 135 residents and approximately 35 AWARE volunteers. AWARE (Assisting Women through Action, Resources & Education) is a grass-roots organization dedicated to promoting awareness and generating funds in order to make meaningful improvements in the… read more

The Human Services Council of New York (HSC) premieres its new weekly, hour-long radio series, Voices of Human Services, on WWRL (1600 AM) on Wednesday, June 26, from 11 pm to 12 midnight. Co-moderated by HSC Executive Director Michael Stoller and Deputy Executive Director Allison Sesso,  the weekly broadcast will explore a range of topics related to the human services needs of New Yorkers and the public policies that have an impact on the effective delivery of nonprofit human… read more

Georgette Delinois, Director of BFL's Secret Garden Program was honored with the Francoise I. Casseus Community Leadership Award at this June's Haitians Unified for Development and Education (HUDE) 2nd Annual Benefit Gala. Proceeds of the HUDE Gala go to a scholarship fund for high school graduates of Haitian descent to assist with college tuition.  HUDE will award a $2,000 scholarship this year. HUDE's mission is to support and empower the Haitian community socially, politically, and academnically by developing programs… read more