Category: Advocacy

Blog Posts About

Advocacy

Half the Sky Movement Highlights AWARE & Freedom House

November 28, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities, Shelter Tags: 0 Comments
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

Self-Defense Among Women With Disabilities

November 27, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities Tags: 0 Comments
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

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

November 27, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
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

Rust And Bone Shines Light on Living With a Disability

November 26, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events 0 Comments
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

NYC Industries for the Blind Exhibit

November 14, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events 0 Comments
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

DFN Fund for People with Disabilities Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

November 13, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events 0 Comments
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

Suit May Go On in Disaster Plan for the Disabled

November 9, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events 0 Comments
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

X Factor Star Jahmene Douglas Raises DV Awareness

November 8, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
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

Vote!

November 6, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events Tags: 0 Comments
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

BFL Lavender & Blue MegaMixer Delivers Empowerment, Fun & An Aria!

October 25, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
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

Opera Diva Signs on to Perform at BFL Lavender & Blue Event

October 12, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Corporate/Event Sponsors, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
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

Preventing abuse of people with developmental disabilities

October 12, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News 0 Comments
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

NY Times Reports on Community Access’ Restoration of Gouverneur Hospital

October 12, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events, Shelter 0 Comments
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 Honored During National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October 11, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News 0 Comments
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

Marine Alex Minsky Inspires People With Disabilities On NBC News Story

October 9, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Breaking Barriers Newsletter, Current Events 0 Comments
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

TCM’s The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film in October

October 2, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events 0 Comments
Turner Classic Movies will dedicate the month of October to exploring the ways people with disabilities have been portrayed in film. On behalf of Inclusion in the Arts, Lawrence Carter-Long will join TCM host Ben Mankiewicz (pictured) for The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film. The special month-long exploration will air Tuesdays in October, beginning Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. (ET)… read more

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer Releases Economic Abuse Report

October 2, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Corporate/Event Sponsors, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
At a press conference on Oct. 2, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer released a report and survey that uncovered the pervasiveness of economic abuse in New York City, shining a light on a form of domestic violence that takes a heavy toll on victims but too often goes unrecognized and unaddressed. The first-of-its kind report “Economic Abuse: The Untold Cost of Domestic Violence” was co-authored with Sakhi for South Asian Women, a domestic violence advocacy group… read more

October: National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2012

October 1, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events 0 Comments
Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?"… read more

Shine The Light on Domestic Violence in Times Square Oct. 2

October 1, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) will be joined Oct. 2 by a coalition of advocates, elected officials, non-profit leaders, and survivors to illuminate the signs of Times Square purple as a part of OPDV’s statewide Shine the Light on Domestic Violence Campaign. Click here for flyer Nine major Times Square billboards, including ABC Supersign, American Eagle, Bank of… read more

Peace Kitty donates to BFL Lavender & Blue MegaMixer

September 28, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Corporate/Event Sponsors, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
Peace Kitty, the brainchild of owner Kate Martin, has donated a custom T-shirt to the BFL Lavender & Blue Oct. 23 MegaMixer. Since opening shop, Kate has donated 10% of the profits to local animal shelters in Missouri where she operates, and was inspired by BFLs mission. "I am all about kindness and compassion, especially when it comes to animals. I am a kitty mom and have been a kitty… read more

Aware Event Benefits Freedom House

September 14, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities Tags: 0 Comments
The Women of AWARE  (Assisting Women through Action, Resources & Education) invite you to an evening of Dessert, Drinks & Dancing featuring a fabulous silent auction To benefit Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House The country’s only fully accessible emergency shelter for  disabled victims of domestic violence and their families Thursday, October 18th, 2012 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm Bar 13 121 University Place (between 13th and 14th Streets) 3rd Floor… read more

BFL Speakers Bureau Launches Newsletter

August 30, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
Barrier Free Living Survivors Speakers Bureau, which started in May 2012, has released its first 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

Oscar Pistorius Trail Blazing Olympian

August 14, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events 0 Comments
South Africa's double amputee runner Oscar Pistorius, who competed in the men's 400m semi-finals at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games,  was selected to carry South Africa's flag at the closing ceremony. The inspiring athlete also prompted the Boston Marathon to announce that it would be "well-pleased" to allow runners with prosthetic legs to compete in the open division.… read more

Employment – New Census report on Americans with Disabilities

August 8, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events 0 Comments
The U.S. Census Bureau has released a new report, "Americans With Disabilities: 2010." The report finds that approximately 57 million Americans, or nearly 1 in 5, have a disability, with more than half (87 million) reporting the disability as "severe." About 4 in 10 working-age persons with a disability were employed, compared to 8 in 10 working-age persons without a disability. Adults with severe disabilities were about twice as likely as adults with non-severe disabilities to experience… read more

Suit Up! A Fund Raiser to Empower Transitional Housing Residents to Swim

August 2, 2012 Advocacy, BFL News, Current Events Tags: 0 Comments
BFL Transitional Housing program kicked off it's August Suit Up! Fund Raiser, to supply swimwear and goggles to residents so they  can participate in the Summer Aquatics Program.  Aquatics is part of the Occupational Therapy program's roster of special activities focusing on strength, stretching and community building for people with disabilities.  Video here.  Donate… read more

Violence, abuse, bullying: an untold story of disabled people living in Wales

July 31, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events 0 Comments
An article on Disability Direct News reports that Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, Eleanor Burnham AM has today given her support to the Equality and Human Rights Commission Inquiry to examine how disabled people, their family, friends and carers who have experienced harassment have been supported, or not, by public authorities… read more

More Than 1 In 4 Kids With Disabilities Abused

July 17, 2012 Advocacy, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
Children with disabilities are four times more likely than typically developing kids to be victims of violence, according to a first-of-its-kind global analysis, reports the disability scoop. In a review of 20 years worth of data, researchers found that more than a quarter of children with disabilities have been exposed to some type of violence, be it physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect… read more

Helping People with Disabilities Help Themselves