New Visions Blog

A great video to check out: The Deaf Justice Coalition ("DJC") wants to learn about Deaf and hard of hearing individuals' experiences with the NYPD! This video explains the survey the DJC is doing. Click here for video.… read more

The New York Cares 24th Annual Coat Drive delivered over 40 warm coats to residents of BFL's Transitional Housing program for people with disabilities.  Thus far, over 60 thousand coats have been distributed in the NY area.  To find out more about the coat drive, additional information, email [email protected] or call 212.228.5000… read more

The agency's Breaking Barriers newsletter (click here for the latest 2013 edition) is shipping out its last print edition this month, turning to an online version moving foreword.  The shift is part of the agency's overall mission to go green, and continue to ramp up it's social media presence… read more

An article (excerpt below) in  Jan. 14, 2013 NY Times, about Secret Garden consumer Alejandrina Cruz. Click here to read the full article. Alejandrina Cruz may be the only Bronx grandmother with a kung fu movie collection to rival that of a subway salesman laden with cartons of contraband. Ms. Cruz, 65, lived in the city shelter system for more than three years while working to repair wounds left by years of physical and emotional abuse. For the past 100… read more

Barrier Free Living Survivors Speakers Bureau, which started in May 2012, ended 2012 with the third edition of its  newsletter.  The Bureau looks  "forward to meeting your speaker needs for women with Disabilities. Our founding organizers Theresa McIntosh and Patrice C. Queen encourage your inquiries and opportunities to educate your organization, school, university or event on the issues of domestic violence and its intersection with disabilities." Info: [email protected]… read more

ABC News' Lauren Glassberg reports on the journey of a resident at BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter for survivors of domestic violence. See Grace's story here.… read more

Institute for Healing of Memories, Director Fr. Michael Lapsley released the groups annual newsletter, noting that: "We have come to the end of the year. For the Restoring Humanity Youth project of the Institute for the Healing of Memories it has been a year of growth. Our last newsletter for the year reflects on some of these activities that allows the young people to explore the impact of our past, and the wounds we have to… read more

LeShan Gaulman spent a good deal of time at Barrier Free Living before signing on this January as the new Transitional Housing Program Director. “For the past three years I have been Independence Care System’s (ICS) Social Service Coordinator for BFL, working on site at BFL’s Transitional Housing Program,” said Leshan, a native of the Bronx and life-time New Yorker.  “ICS provides services for the residents that are enrolled and provides long-term… read more

Theresa Sareo is a New York-based singer/songwriter. In June 2002 she was struck by an impaired driver and her injuries forced the amputation of her right leg. Since the accident she has also become a motivational speaker, and has appeared on CNN's Larry King Live and in New York Magazine. Her documentary film "Theresa Sareo: Alive Again" chronicles the story of her life and career and has garnished "Audience Choice for Best Documentary" (2012 Gasparilla International Film Festival—Tampa) and "Best… read more

Anne K. Markowitz, L.C.S.W., a consultant providing workshops around the topic of anger for Barrier Free Living, held a special fund raising event in her home this month, raising more than $1,000 in cash and gift cards for the residents of BFL's  Freedom House Emergency Shelter. Markowitz, who has worked in hospitals, shelters and other agencies as a consultant on domestic violence and anger issues, plans to make the fund raiser an annual event.  She was honored last year as… read more

The HSC Leadership Awards Reception on Dec. 12 drew a host of leaders and luminaries, applauding the work of the not-for-profit services sector. Honorees and attendees enjoyed a sumptuous buffet and a stunning skyline view from the 35th floor of Mutual of America.… read more

FEGS's Center for Women and Families has a New Job Club for survivors of Family Violence.  View Info. Flyer here. The FEGS's Center for Women and Families Job Club is a FREE group for job seekers.  The Job Club offers: *       Assessment *       Resume / Cover letter assistance *       Interview skills *       Job search techniques *       Access to jobs *       Employment support and counseling If you have… read more

BFL's Secret Garden is holding its winter Money Matters group weekly on Mondays. The group guides survivors to learn strong habits and empowerment tools around issues involving finance, credit and money management (video clip at right). To  View the video here. To learn more email [email protected]… read more

In his introduction to BFL's recently launched Domestic Violence and Disability expertise web page,  President/CEO Paul Feuerstein points out that the agency has  "the largest DV intervention program in the country." Feuerstein states that: "In 1986, I hired Liz Lederman, a new graduate from NYU’s Deafness Rehabilitation Master’s Program, to join our clinic team. She had around 12 years’ experience working with disabled victims of abuse. Prior to her joining us, we had no knowledge of abuse among people with a… read more

BFL's Organizational Development Manager Scott Hess (pictured fourth from left) was honored on Dec. 12 with the Human Services Council's Next Generation Leadership award at the annual awards reception on the stunning 35th floor of Manhattan's Mutual of America. Honorees were noticed for advocacy, influence and community service. Click here for the full list of award recipients and reception info… read more

Senator John Kerry made an impassioned plea for ratifying a treaty aimed at advancing the rights of the blind and disabled across the globe, urging the US Congress to do for the world what has already been accomplished here to protect Americans with disabilities. Supporters fell six votes short of the 67 needed to ratify. Read the story… read more

In a letter to Freedom House Program Director Isa Martinez and her staff, a resident recently shared her gratitude at being safe and on the path to a renewed life as the holidays approach. The mother of two wrote: "Since I have been here at Freedom House I have accomplished so much. My self esteem is great and I have peace of mind knowing I am safe and there are staff who genuinely care about residents."… read more

This year's theme for the UN's International Day of Persons with Disabilities is: Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all. Over one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. Persons with disabilities, “the world’s largest minority”, often face barriers to participation in all aspects of society… read more

The kids of BFL's Secret Garden and Freedom House programs created cards to thank supporters, friends and donors to the agency this season, like the one pictured by Emily, age 9.  BFL friends who post a message on our holiday page with their contact information receive a reply card from the kids.… read more

Transitional Housing and Secret Garden programs had a combined celebration for the Thanksgiving Holiday, serving residents and consumers of both programs along with staff.  Live entertainment was provided by Hospital Audiences and the BFL Occupational Therapy team helped decorate and plan the event… read more

The Half the Sky Movement, which is 'cutting across platforms to ignite the change needed to put an end to the oppression of women and girls worldwide' highlighted the work of AWARE: Assisting Women Through Action, Resources and Education in a recent blog post. The article points out that AWARE  selected as their initial beneficiary Barrier Free Living Freedom House, the first nationally recognized shelter that serves disabled domestic violence victims and their families. The AWARE October… read more

Former BFL Secret Garden team member Molly Burke  Freyer co authored (with Michelle S. Ballan) the report: Self-Defense Among Women With Disabilities An Unexplored Domain, stating that 'Women with disabilities are frequent victims of domestic violence, yet scant research has examined self-protective mechanisms that could mitigate this abuse.' View the article PDF here.… read more

Women's Rights News is part of the 16 days of activism against gender violence (through Dec. 10) where: Living free from violence is a human right, yet millions of women and girls suffer disproportionately from violence both in peace and in war, at the hands of the state, in the home and community… read more

Scoring big at film fests and gaining Oscar buzz, Rust and Bone according to the Star Ledger's Stephen Whitty may require "rethinking what we thought we knew - about love, about sex, about disability - is what "Rust and Bone" is about. Be careful, the film warns us -- we may know less about those things than we think."… read more

Evacuating during Hurricane Sandy was a nightmare for the able-bodied, but many disabled New Yorkers felt a frightening level of despair and abandonment. Read the AM New York story… read more

Homeless Services United gave a shout out to the work of dedicated team members at BFL's Transitional Housing Program in their latest newsletter. Located on the Lower East Side, the Transitional Housing Program had a core of staff members working above and beyond during Hurricane Sandy, including David Rodriguez and Paul Thomas. Read the story here.… read more

Emmy Award winning journalist Lauren Glassberg (pictured front left) visited BFL's Freedom House Emergency shelter to shoot footage for a story to air in December. Glassberg spoke with Freedom House Program Director Isa Martinez (pictured front right) and members of her team, along with BFL CEO Paul Feuerstein (pictured front right)… read more

NYC Industries for the Blind Exhibition features a site-specific installation that activates sight, sound, smell, and touch.This exhibition was launched in conjunction with Art Connects New York’s Art Placement Program, an initiative that matches curators with social service agencies to permanently install artwork in their facilities; artwork which actively reflects the mission and programs of the agency… read more

The Disability Funders Network (DFN) Rapid Response Fund is being activated to help nonprofit organizations meet the immediate and long-term needs of people with disabilities in North Eastern regions impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The DFN Rapid Response Fund will offer mini-grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to meet specific needs such as transportation, shelter, medication, medical equipment and assistive technology for people with disabilities… read more

Thanks to a generous donation from the 13th Step Group, the children of the Secret Garden program received backpacks… read more