Category: Advocacy
Disabled Vet Inspiring Sky Diving Video
Todd Love is a USMC veteran who lost both of his legs and his left hand to an IED in Afghanistan, who's determined to not let that get in the way of ANYTHING (Watch Todd's story).
He has been surfing, skiing, scuba diving, wrestling alligators, and now learning to skydive. After completing his first tandem skydive with Mike Elliott into the start of the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Hawaii he was hooked! And since "impossible" and "can't" are… read more
New Report on Abuse Experienced by Disabled People
A new report is out: The hidden abuse of disabled people residing in the community: An exploratory study, written by Dr Michael Roguski for Tairawhiti Community Voice.
The report is a comprehensive exploration of the kinds of abuse experienced by disabled people and clarifies the range of people who are abusers.
Click here to download the report.… read more
Blessed Night Out Housing Justice Vigil
Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing will hold its 28th Annual Interfaith Convocation Walk & Overnight City Hall vigil for Housing Justice, Blessed Night Out, starting at 6:30PM on May 31 at St. Paul’s Chapel, 209 Broadway at Fulton St.
There will be a candlelight procession to City Hall Park for an overnight vigil, culminating in a Press Conference Friday morning at 9AM.
More info here.… read more
Bold New Icon for People with Disabilities
An effort to revamp the icon that’s long symbolized accessibility on everything from parking lot signs to bathrooms is gaining traction with New York City agreeing to adopt a new look. Read the story here.… read more
10 Things to Never Say to a Person in a Wheelchair
The Mobility Resource offers insight into communicating with wheel chair users, and things not to say like: Slow down there. You might get a speeding ticket.
Read the article here.… read more
Alex Minsky’s Star Rises as He Continues to Inspire People with Disabilities
First featured on our website last October, Alex Minsky, the Marine Lance Cpl. who lost his leg when his truck rolled over an IED (improvised explosive device) in Afghanistan, has gone onto become a sought after model and inspiration for people with disabilities world wide. He has been featured this June on both ABC and NBC.
See the ABC Good Morning America story click here.
See the latest news story on NBC click here.
Click here to… read more
The Changing Image of Who’s Homeless
After a career as a decorated Marine then working for the Federal Aviation Administration, Dr. Young suddenly went from
actively thriving to barely surviving while living out of his car in metro Atlanta. Moving in and out of extended stay motels, and navigating throughout the sometimes dangerous streets of metro Atlanta.
Check out Dr. Young's blog here.… read more
Warrior Games May 11
The United States Olympic Committee and Deloitte announced that the Warrior Games will be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 11-16, 2013. In addition to Deloitte, the presenting sponsor, the six-day event is also supported by the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, USO, Fisher House Foundation, AT&T, BP, Budweiser and the Semper Fi Fund.
More than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans are expected to participate in 2013. They will comprise five U.S. teams representing… read more
BFL Speaker’s Bureau Mother’s Day Themed Newsletter
The BFL Survivor's Speaker's Bureau released its Mother's Day themed newsletter.
The Bureau is made up of women with disabilities "some who had been rejected by their families, some had decided to end their abuse and go into shelter, and many who had to stop pursuing their educational dreams," said Theresa McIntosh, Senior coordinator and founder of the Barrier Free Living Survivor's Speaker's Bureau.
The Bureau serves as a platform for survivors to share their stories, and educate the public on issue of… read more
Freedom House Residents Graduate From EASE Program
Residents of BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter graduated from the EASE program this April.
The ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT (EASE) PROGRAM, created by Robert Hawkins and Alisha Ali of New York University, helps to equip survivors of domestic violence with resources to secure sustainable employment.
Pictured at the graduation are: (left to right) Zoila Vargas, Freedom House Entitlements worker; Tysheene Neely, Freedom House, Housing Specialist; Robert Hawkins, Ph.D, NYU professor; Nickeema Coy… read more
Kids Wish Network Heroes at Freedom House
Since 2010 the Kids Wish Network has honored more than 30 children at Freedom House Emergency Shelter with a Hero of the Month award.
The honorees of this program are children between the ages of 3 and 18 who have faced and overcome difficult circumstances, often enduring a great deal of pain and suffering.
"This really speaks to the children's courage during time of hardship, as their families enter our domestic violence shelter… read more
BFL Occupational Therapy Program Presents at Conference
BFL's Occupational Therapy Program Coordinator Patricia Motus, OTR/L, and Christina Marino, MS, OTR/L presented "Occupational Therapy with Survivors of Domestic Violence: An Initial Cross Case Analysis for Determining Factors of Success in a Shelter Setting" at the The American Occupational Therapy Association’s 93rd Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego April 25-28.
The AOTA Annual Conference & Expo is "the most dynamic gathering for occupational therapy professionals each year... Stimulating Presidential… read more
Taste of Hope Event
On Thursday, May 16th The HOPE Program will host its second annual A Taste of HOPE event, a celebration of tastings, toasts and transformations at Steelcase, Inc., 4 Columbus Circle New York from 6pm-8:30pm.
HOPE empowers New Yorkers living in poverty to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment and advancement. As one of HOPE's signature programs prepares men and women for careers in New York City's food… read more
Credo For Support Powerful Video About Perceptions on Disability
Click here to view Norman Kunc & Emma Van der Klift's video, "A Credo for Suppport" - spoken by members of San Luis Obispo People First.
Order DVDs including "a series of suggestions for people who care about and support someone with a disability" that " prompts viewers to question the common perceptions of disability, professionalism, and support" by clicking here… read more
Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities: A National Snapshot
Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities: A National Snapshot was recently released at a congressional briefing in Washington, DC. The report provides an overview of the latest research on the incidence and prevalence of sexual abuse of children with disabilities.
View the report here.… read more
Secret Garden Guides Woman to Freedom
Miss M., a woman who found safety and healing at BFL's Secret Garden domestic violence program, shared a letter of gratitude with staff, thanking them for "giving me back my life." Miss M. said the program helped her to change her "destiny forever."
Click here to read Miss M.'s letter.… read more
United to End Homelessness Rally April 9
The United to End Homelessness campaign launches Tuesday, April 9 at 1pm at the NY City Hall steps.
New York City’s next Mayor and City Council will confront unprecedented levels of homelessness. By the end of 2012,
more than 57,000 people, including more than 22,000 children, slept each night on the street or in a City shelter, the
largest homeless shelter population ever recorded.
Click here to view rally flyer.… read more
Codes of Hope Inspires Healing
CODES OF HOPE, an innovative six-week curriculum highlighting the aspects of inter-generational trauma and its relationship to domestic violence, is working with participants at BFL's Secret Garden and Freedom House programs.
Activities include inventive approaches to healing, such as a dinner party theater game exploring the dynamics of power and control.
Marcella Goheen and Thea Martinez are co-facilitators of CODES OF HOPE. Inspired by The Maria Project’s story of Maria Salazar, the CODES OF HOPE curriculum reflects an interdisciplinary approach… read more
Women’s Equality Coaltion Press Conference April 4
On, April 4th, the Women’s Equality Coalition will be having press conferences around the state. The Coalition will focus on the Women’s Equality Agenda, a groundbreaking new plan that will break down barriers and promote fairness and equal
opportunity for women.
Topics include:
Stopping Housing Discrimination for Victims of Domestic Violence: We need to protect victims of
domestic violence from discrimination when they try to purchase, rent, or lease housing.
Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence by Strengthening Order-of-Protection Laws: Domestic
violence victims should be allowed… read more
Homeless Services United April 9th Rally: United to End Homelessness
HSU is one of the lead agencies that has been mobilizing a new nonpartisan coalition to highlight the crisis of homelessness during the 2013 mayoral election in New York City. The coalition – United to End Homelessness – will hold its official launch next Tuesday, April 9, on the steps of City Hall at 1pm.
There are more people today in New York City’s shelter system than at any other time in recorded history. Fifty-seven thousand New Yorkers are now… read more
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Free Air Conditioners
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is making available $3 million worth of free air-conditioners this year to low income individuals and families. This would include supportive housing residents. Individuals must apply at their local social services office. Details on the program are available at: http://otda.ny.gov/news/2013/2013-04-01.asp
… read more
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Accessible Housing Symposium
The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities kicked off its first Accessible Housing Symposium at John Jay College April 1. The symposium featured panel discussions on the topic of educating New Yorkers with Disabilities on accessible housing options. The event concluded with an information fair and included participation from Barrier Free Living. Participating agencies included NYC Housing Authority and Department of Housing Preservation and Development.… read more
Fourth Annual VOICE-Out
On April 23, 2013, the Kings County District Attorney's Office will host the Fourth Annual VOICE-Out (Victims on the Impact of Crime Event) at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
The event recognizes the strength and celebrates the voices of those Brooklyn residents whose lives have been changed by crime, and to provide them with information about resources that will better assist them in addressing the ongoing trauma created by these crimes.
The focus this year will be on the impact of gun violence in… read more
Fourth Annual Paralympic Sport Club New York City Track and Field Open
A partnership between, The NYC Department of Education, NYC Parks, Wheelchair Sports Federation and Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, the Fourth Annual Paralympic Sport Club New York City Track and Field Open will be held June 3 at Icahn Stadium.
All Athletes with Physical Disabilities are welcome: Competition will be divided into groups using Age Groups and Divisions. Events include: 100-400 Meters, Relays, Slalom, Turbo Javelin… read more
BFL Speaker’s Bureau Graduation Event
The BFL Speaker's Bureau held its first gala Graduation March 27.
Graduates shared empowering stories of healing and their support of the Bureau's mission to continue to educate around the topics of domestic violence and disability. Founder Theresa McIntosh lead the celebration, which featured poetry and a visit from Victor Calise, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities along with citations of acknowledgement from Council Member Rosie Mendez's office… read more
Theater Breaking Through Barriers Premiere
Theater Breaking Through Barriers presents the NY Premiere of ACCORDING TO GOLDMAN by Bruce Grah, directed by Ike Schambelan April 6-May 5.
ACCORDING TO GOLDMAN is a fresh, funny and eventually fierce look at screenwriting for Hollywood. By studying a mentoring relationship between an old Hollywood hand and an eager young student, it shows the move of major movies from the elegance and grace of Fred Astaire to the… read more
Ninth Annual NYC Mental Health Film Festival
Co-sponsored by Community Access and NYAPRS, the 9th Annual NYC Mental Health Film Festival brings to downtown Brooklyn a vivid selection of thought-provoking films which positively portray the mental health community. The event also includes Q&A sessions with filmmakers, audience discussions, and a free lunch.
EVENT DETAILS
WHEN: Sunday, May 5, 2013: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: St Francis College, 182 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, NY
TICKETS: $7 dollars in advance, $10 at the door
DIRECTIONS: 2,3 or 4,5 to Borough Hall; A or F to J Street/Borough Hall; R to Court… read more
Denim Day Protest Sexual Violence April 24
Support Denim Day to protest sexual violence by wearing denim on April 24. To learn more click here.
Also, In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) and Denim Day there will be a Citywide Op-ed Writing Contest for college students. A$500 prize for one winner from each Borough will be offered.
Denim Day grew out of a 1998 Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans. The judges reasoned the victim’s tight jeans… read more
New York City Leads Jump in Homeless
An article in The Wall Street Journal reports that an average of more than 50,000 people slept each night in New York City's homeless shelters for the first time in January, a record that underscores an unsettling national trend: a rising number of families without permanent housing.
Read the article here.… read more
Legal Services NYC Files Federal Lawsuit against NYCHA on Behalf of Domestic Violence Victims
Legal Services NYC-Bronx and Queens Legal Services today announced the filing of new federal lawsuit that seeks to reform the New York City Housing Authority’s treatment of domestic violence victims who are seeking emergency public housing in order to escape from their abusers.
Click here to read more.… read more