New Visions Blog

People with Disabilities Experience Domestic Violence, Too: An FAQ Barrier Free Living welcomes writer Sarah Kim who will be contributing articles about domestic violence and disabilities. Sarah Kim: formerly a writer at @dosomething | now: graduate student at Columbia Journalism School | social media: @sarahskkim… read more

Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden team members participated in this November's annual Barrier Free Justice Conference. The conference explored the intersection between disability and elder abuse, with a focus on victimization within the elderly population. Presenters and panelists discussed recognizing the signs of abuse, how to navigate and facilitate conversations about disabilities within the geriatric population, as well as the importance of caregiver support. Additionally, the conference explored the current misconceptions about elder abuse, what resources (social and legal) are currently in… read more

The front desk staff of Barrier Free Living's  Freedom House program hosted its second annual Go Pink Day on Friday October 20. Resident Aide Manager Linette Holmes shares that "This is the second year Freedom House is remembering all those that are survivors of Breast Cancer and those that have lost the fight." Freedom House staff wore pink to commemorate this special cause and a GO PINK TABLE was the focal point of the celebration… read more

CNN reports on Tommy Hilfiger's new line of clothing for people with disabilities. The collection, which goes on sale Wednesday November 18, uses magnets and Velcro to make it easier for people to get dressed. The line has 37 styles for men and 34 for women -- shirts, pants, jackets, sweaters and dresses. "A lot of people with disabilities struggle with buying clothing that works," says Cara Liebowitz, development coordinator at the National Council on Independent Living. Read the story. … read more

Nobody likes to attach a dollar amount to the joys of raising a child, but the fact remains that it can be quite expensive. This is especially true when it comes to raising a child with special needs. In fact, one study funded by Autism Speaks estimated the average lifetime cost to be $1.4 million for a person affected by autism. And that’s to say nothing of the other forms of special needs, which can include blindness, Down syndrome and… read more

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Every year the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence partners with NYC City Council to raise awareness about services and resources for victims and survivors of intimate partner violence on NYC GO Purple Day. This year’s statewide “Wear Purple Day” is Thursday, October 19. If you want to volunteer please contact the first district to join the effort in your community. Volunteers will: · Hand out… read more

The Deaf Justice Coalition announced the launch of a pilot program by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) aimed at improving access to law enforcement services for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH). “Being able to contact the police if they’re in trouble is something that most people take for granted,” said Deaf Justice Coalition member and Barrier Free Living Secret Garden team member Nicolyn Plummer, who… read more

Team members from Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter will be at the International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Systems Change in April. Cynthia Amodeo and Aida Colon of Freedom House will present "Barriers to Seeking Safety." Freedom House team member Myra Ricard will be attending. (Top photo: Colon, Amodeo and Ricard, left to right). The conference's focus is on sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, human trafficking… read more

Denim Day Activists received a shout out in an article in the Hollywood Times. The article, which was about Bust Magazine's Primped Craftacular event,  notes: “Not every booth was selling goods, either. Two young activists were passing out pamphlets for Denim Day, an annual rally during sexual assault awareness month. In New York City, thousands will gather on April 26th clad in denim jeans. The jeans represent an Italian… read more

Two team members from Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter will present at the End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) conference in Orlando in April. Cynthia Amodeo and Aida Colon will present "Barriers to Seeking Safety" discussing barriers people with disabilities face when coming into shelter and what the Freedom House team is doing to overcome those barriers. The EVAWI International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Systems Change is April 18 - 20, 2017 in Orlando, FL.… read more

Join the Human Services Council (HSC) for the New York City kickoff of the Restore Opportunity Now Campaign on February 2, 2017, at Ivan Shapiro House, 459 West 46th Street at 1:00 pm. The Restore Opportunity Now Campaign is a statewide effort to call for crucial investments and systemic changes in New York's nonprofit human services sector, which provides essential services to combat poverty and inequality across New York State. The campaign… read more

Cathryn Ana Glenday, MPH, MA, LMHC, is a psychotherapist and health educator focusing on disability mental health in Albuquerque. She has  been writing poetry since grade school. She is also working on a memoir about her own life and the lives of other disabled women she has  encountered as a medical student and grad student in clinical psychology. She shares a poem, below. Desert Fortress High above Albuquerque, behind the barbed wire fence, The isolated desert… read more

Barrier Free Living staff joined politicians and activists outside City Hall on April 29 for anti-sexual assault Denim Day. Read more.… read more

Barrier Free Living will be a featured partner in St. John University's 8th Annual Turn Off The Violence Clothes Line Project event, April 20-24. The Staten Island campus of St. John's will  recognize those victims of violence who come from "many different countries, races, religions, and socioeconomic statuses, and to take a stand against all power-based personal violence that often occurs in personal relationships." The week kicks off with a Key Note Address by BFL CEO/Founder Paul Feuerstein. Other events include a… read more

http://youtu.be/AbqT_ubkT0Y In celebration of International Women's Day, take part in YouTube’s global #DearMe initiative to inspire and empower young girls everywhere. We all know that growing up is tough. But if you could go back in time, what wisdom would you share with your teenage self? It all starts with two words. Dear Me… read more

The  Hunterdon County Democrat reports: Mirror Images Salon in Clinton opened its doors on Sunday, Dec. 7, for a Cuts for Compassion event to benefit The Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Crisis Center (DASACC) of Warren County, based in Washington. Read the story.… read more

IPC Athletics Reports: Although the para-athletics season does not get underway fully until February’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, UAE, here are 10 athletes who could make a name for themselves in 2015. Felix Streng (Germany) In 2014 Streng won the 200m T44 European title and won silver in the 100m. He set multiple personal bests over 100m and finished in the top six of the… read more

LinkNYC, a proposal to leverage old payphone infrastructure to build the world’s largest, fastest free municipal Wi-Fi network was announced by Mayor de Blasio last month. LinkNYC would dramatically increase broadband speeds in neighborhoods across all five boroughs, provide free domestic calling at all times, and generate millions of dollars annually to reinvest into additional programs aimed at bridging the digital divide for New Yorkers who need it most. Positive feedback on the LinkNYC proposal has poured in from leaders of… read more

The National Council on Disability supports the 2014 United Nations (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on December 3. According to the UN, the official theme of this year's commemoration is “Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology.” In 2011, NCD published "The Power of Digital Inclusion: Technology's Impact on Employment and Opportunities for People with Disabilities.” Much of what we detailed then is, arguably, even more true now – if people are provided access and the opportunity, technology can… read more

Sorenson Communication launched a new Videophone Communication booth for Deaf/HOH participants at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden Domestic Violence program in October. Sorenson's mission is to "empower the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to communicate with both deaf and hearing family, friends or business contacts using video relay service." Nicolyn Plummer, Secret Garden Social Worker, Services for the Deaf, organized the event, attended by staff and participants of the program. Pictured… read more

The National Network to End Domestic Violence reports: In a press conference today, Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated the need for the NFL to “get it right” and work to shift how society responds to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. In response to media inquiries about the National Football League’s (NFL’s) plans to do this, Commissioner Goodell announced that NFL funds will be donated to the National Domestic Violence Hotline to aid in responding to the increased call volume. These funds… read more

CNN Reports: When a case of domestic violence captures the national headlines like the story of fallen NFL star Ray Rice and his wife, Janay, there's a laser focus on the abuser and the victim. But what about the children? Ray and Janay Rice have a 2-year-old daughter. We don't know if she has ever witnessed domestic violence in her household or ever will. What we do know is more than 3 million children have witnessed it in their homes every year, according to… read more

The Washington Post Reports: It turns out that domestic violence against women doesn't just do short-term damage to a victim's health. It's also associated with diseases, traumas and illnesses that can last a lifetime. Women who have fallen victim to domestic violence are 80 percent more likely to suffer a stroke, 70 percent more likely to have heart disease, 70 percent more likely to become heavy drinkers, and 60 percent more likely to become asthmatic than women who have not, … read more

E-Pao.net reports: Emphasizing the significance of organizing awareness programme at the village level, Mangboi Singsit, Project Officer of Manipur North Economic Development Association (MANEDA) has pointed out that most of the disabled people living in villages are victims of domestic violence and they don't enjoyed the rights entitled to them by the Constitution of India. The Project Officer of MANEDA was speaking during a Seminar on the Rights of Persons with Disability jointly organized by All Disabled Union Sadar Hills (ADUSH)… read more

http://youtu.be/pcdFmJp0Oow Mayor Bill de Blasio and Commissioner Victor Calise Celebrate 2014 Sapolin Awards in Honor of the 24th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act August 19, 2014… read more

HSC has launched a new campaign to advocate for a comprehensive Cost of Living Adjustment from the State. Over the next four months HSC, in coordination with the lobbying firm Malkin & Ross, will be developing and launching a Campaign that will focus on building targeted support for a comprehensive policy to address the rising costs and impact of inflation on our industry. We must take advantage of the current election cycle to elevate the need for these critical state investments. To make… read more

Blogger Jenni Cowley is a former social worker who, after a career sabbatical to raise her two youngsters, decided to begin blogging about about mental health topics. Emotional Abuse – Can It Cause Longer Lasting Damage than Domestic Abuse? Statistics show that approximately one in four women living in America will suffer from domestic abuse at some point in their lives. Sadly, many women stay in abusive relationships long after the first violent act has been committed against them.  This is a… read more

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has announced that its members will vote on whether to send the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Disabilities Treaty) to the full Senate on July 22! Contact your Senators and ask them to support ratification (passage) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Disabilities Treaty). Click here to contact your Senators: Once passed out of committee, we want the treaty to be considered by all Senators the last week of July. Background The… read more