New Visions Blog

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

BFL salutes Veterans.  Read about how our upcoming Supportive Housing project can help veterans with disabilities… read more

The New York Times reports that a judge has agreed to allow a class-action lawsuit to proceed against New York City alleging a systemic failure in addressing the needs of the disabled population in planning for emergencies and disasters… read more

Ladda Tammy Duckworth (pictured) won a seat in the U.S. Representative-elect for Illinois's 8th congressional district. Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot and suffered severe combat wounds, losing both of her legs and damaging her right arm. She continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois… read more

X Factor UK Star Jamene Douglas, whose mother is a domestic violence survivor, has launched a #RaiseAwarenessForDomesticViolence campaign. His mother Mandy has started her own campaign to raise funds for victims of domestic violence. She wrote on her appeal page: “Raising awareness on the fact that Womens aid needs funding. Refuges need funding. Children need help. Cut backs have caused an uneasy ripple of monotony of unnessesary heartaches. We can’t change the… read more

The AWARE October 18th fundraiser at NYC Bar 13 to benefit Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House raised over $25,000 for disabled domestic violence victims and their families. Pictured, Paul Feuerstein, President/CEO BFL and Isa Martinez, Director, Freedom House. Visit AWARE to view event photos, donate or learn more.… read more

A site to help people find gas in the aftermath of Sandy was launched… read more

BFL Transitional Housing Program residents joined the occupational therapy team on an outing to the nearest poll site today. The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly & Handicapped Act requires polling places across the United States to be physically accessible to people with disabilities for federal elections… read more

An email from a new supporter, who attended BFL's Lavender&Blue event during October's Domestic Violence Awareness month.  Camille Writes: Scott, thank you for inviting Tyrel and I to the wonderful event tonight. We had a great time and we won prizes! Yahoo!  It was good to be a part of the affair and meet wonderful people. The poetry and Vivi, the opera singer was amazing and everyone was so nice and open. BFL is a fabulous organization and I wish you… read more

The Sessions, Audience Award winner at Sundance and part of ReelAbilities Film fest, tells the story of a man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest… read more

BFL's Domestic Violence Awareness Month event, Lavender & Blue drew a lively crowd in support of the agency mission. Supporters joined new friends at XES Lounge in Manhattan for drinks and gab. The hit of the night was DV Survivor opera diva Vivi Le Voix who wowed the crowd with a brilliant aria (event video or below on home page)… read more

BFL's Lavender & Blue MegaMixer will feature a performance from Opera singer Vivi (pictured). The event will include drink tix, raffle, guest speakers, and an awesome DJ at the XES Club in Manhattan on Oct. 23, 6pm-8pm. XES is at 157 W 24th St… read more

A blog post originally published on September 26, 2012 by Nora J. Baladerian Ph.D. is October's featured article on BFL's Breaking Barriers in Domestic Violence Newsletter.  Read the blog. Sign up for BFL's free Breaking Barriers In DV Enewsletter at [email protected]… read more

The NY Times reports on Community Access’ restoration of the old Gouverneur Hospital, now called Gouverneur Court. Read the article, Still Housing the Needy, In a Changed Manhattan.  Barrier Free Living is working with Community Access on its latest Supportive Housing project. Steve Coe, Community Access Chief Executive Officer says: "As I mention in the article, the people we help were excluded from mainstream housing, which meant that social workers and community organizers had to figure out how to… read more

BFL was honored twice during October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Helen Keller Organization and Millneck Organization both recognized BFL for its outstanding work employing and working with interns with disabilities. Aeilushi Mistry, of the BFL Organizational Development Team accepted the Helen Keller nod, pictured above, second from left.… read more

When Marine Lance Cpl. Alex Minsky (pictured) lost his leg when his truck rolled over an IED (improvised explosive device) in Afghanistan he had no idea how greatly his journey would end up empowering people with disabilities. View the latest NBC News story, click here. LA based photographer Tom Cullis first noticed Alex at his gym. "I saw him on a daily basis doing pushups with one leg or core… read more

The BFL Survivors Speakers Bureau released it's Oct. newsletter. For info contact: [email protected]… read more