New Visions Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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