New Visions Blog

Spread The Sparkle hosted a spectacular holiday event for all of Barrier Free Living's programs this December 25 at a beautiful loft space in Manhattan. Barrier Free Living works with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities (men, women and children) as well as formerly and currently homeless people with disabilities. Led by Spread the Sparkle founder Abbey LeVine and over 30 volunteers, the afternoon featured singing, a face painter, a… read more

To fight both domestic violence and poverty and homelessness, HRA has partnered with nine community-based organizations to provide a wide variety of services to help survivors rebuild their lives. The organizations involved are Barrier Free Living, HELP USA, New York Asian Women’s Center, Sanctuary for Families, the New York City Anti-Violence Project, the Urban Justice Center, Seamen’s Society, Edwin Gould Services, and the Violence Intervention Program. In addition to standard services like safety planning and counseling, all nine of these organizations… read more

Deaf West’s innovative new production of Spring Awakening on Broadway features Deaf and Hard of Hearing actors. The show also includes the first actor (Ali Stroker) who uses a wheelchair to appear on the Great White Way. The Tony winning musical revival has choreographed sign language into the production. The show runs through January 24. Read more.… read more

SUPPORT #GIVING TUESDAY Support Barrier Free Living this year. We work with over 140 kids like Danielle, age 13, who did our holiday card art at left. Danielle is a resident at our Freedom House domestic violence shelter. We also work with current and formerly homeless men and women with disabilities and survivors of domestic violence with disabilities. DONATE NOW… read more

Barrier Free Living apartments, which opened summer of 2015, held a Thanksgiving dinner celebration for tenants and their families on November 24. Program Director Thomas Obrzut worked with his dedicated staff and the coordinator of BFL's Occupational Therapy program Patricia Motus to create a buffet and celebratory atmosphere. Tenants brought dishes to the community event, which was made possible due to a private donation. Learn more about how to support… read more

I headed to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on November 17 to see the Axis Dance Company, expecting an enjoyable evening out of the city. What I experienced was a jaw-dropping, awe inspiring night of integrated dance performance. The show, which includes performers with and without disabilities working together, featured a trio of moving dances: Dix minutes plus tard by Sonya Delwaide; Divide, by Marc Brew; to go again by Joe Goode. The pieces, both individually and as a program, got at… read more

LeShan Gaulman, Program Director of Barrier Free Living's Transition Housing,  has been chosen to receive the 9th Annual Emerging Social Work Leader Award of the National Association of Social Workers – New York City Chapter. This award is being presented to a select number of emerging leaders of the social work profession in recognition of visionary and exemplary work. "It is an honor to be recognized for my service to the profession… read more

A Fair Shake For Youth has launched a 4-week pet therapy program for the children living at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House Domestic Violence Shelter. There are over 50 children living at the shelter.  Pet therapy is used as a tool to build esteem and foster confidence in the youths, many who are recovering from trauma. "The children residing at Freedom House have left behind their familiar environment and loved… read more

The Upper Manhattan Domestic Violence Services Collaborative will Shine the Light – Harlem on Monday, October 26 at 5:30pm. Join domestic violence advocates, survivors and allies, as they bring more awareness to domestic violence in their communities. The event begins with a walk through Harlem, beginning from various starting points in the community, culminating at the State Office Building, which will be lit purple. Flyer here.… read more

The NY Daily News reports: The city’s Department of Homeless Services agreed Tuesday to provide sign language interpreters to deaf people living in homeless shelters — ending a pair of lawsuits that charged the city was discriminating against the hearing-impaired. Read the story.… read more

The Matthew Sapolin Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament will take place November 7-8th at Horace Mann High School in the Bronx. The tournament is FREE for all spectators and is one of the largest events of its kind in the Northeast. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see and interact with some of the nation’s finest wheelchair athletes. All of the most up-to-date information about the tournament including the full schedule, team… read more

The night Noah Galloway lifted his Dancing with the Stars partner Sharna Burgess into the air with one arm was a truly triumphant moment.  It was the impact of his performance on a fellow veteran, however, that Galloway counts as his most monumental achievement. “I did the one-handed lift that was never done before on the show. When I picked her up I heard people jump… read more

New York City’s Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) joined Barrier Free Living (BFL), Alembic Community Development and Foxy Management to celebrate the grand opening of Barrier Free Living Residences for Families and Individuals in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. The project reflects the City’s ongoing efforts to expand supportive housing for its most vulnerable residents, and is BFL’s… read more

Over a dozen volunteers from Yahoo participated in Barrier Free Living's Wellness Day event at the Transitional Housing program this September. Working with The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Yahoo funded the event and supported the BFL team, serving a wellness luncheon and running a gardening "de-stress" workshop. A nurse was also on hand, offering healthy living tips and taking residents' blood pressure.… read more

Inspired by "A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama's Vision for Our World" Julie Pasqual and some friends created "The Giving Group" and set out to turn their compassionate energy outward. Their generosity found a home at BFL's Freedom House this summer, where the group created a "Holiday in July" party for the domestic violence shelter's families. Pasqual has been donating her time doing yoga classes at Freedom… read more

Inspirados por el libro, "A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama's Vision for Our World", Julie Pasqual y algunos amigos crearon "The Giving Group" y se dispusieron a desviar su energía compasiva hacia afuera. Su generosidad encontró un hogar en Freedom House de BFL este verano, donde el grupo creó un "Un Día de Fiesta en Julio" para las familias del refugio de  violencia doméstica. Pasqual ha estado donando su tiempo impartiendo clases de yoga en Freedom House durante… read more

Life Rolls On needs volunteers in four different roles. Please read through these roles before signing up! THEY WILL SURF AGAIN ROCKAWAY BEACH NEW YORK Saturday July 18 2015 / 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Early Morning Set-up, 6:30 am to 8:00 am Don't have time to spend the whole day at an event? No problem! Volunteer for Early Morning Set-up. This role is so important...it sets the tone for the whole event, helping it… read more

Independence Care System's (ICS) Windows To The World art show opens Friday, July 10 from 3pm to 8pm  in Brooklyn, NY. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. The event is held at ICS Brooklyn at 25 Elm Place, 5th Fl. Photo at top: artist Annalisa Rivera. Photo below: artist Keisha Hinds. Photo featured on Pressroom page, top: Kem Rambharose. RSVP: 877-8427 or [email protected]. The ICS Artists… read more

BFL's Supportive Housing team attended the 40th Precinct Community Council Annual Fellowship Breakfast. Also in attendance were: Gabriel De Jesus, 40th Precinct Community Council President; Aurelia Greene, Deputy Borough President; George Rodriguez, Community Board 1 President; Lorenzo Johnson, Deputy Inspector 40th Precinct. The 40th Precinct Community Council  Fellowship Breakfast 2015 Honorees were: NYPD Awards : PO Omar Habib PO Rostislav Kipervaser PO Donald Sehl PO Fabio Checo PO Moises Garcia PO Thomas Warkenthein PO Raymond Gonzalez PO Danny Lopez Leuitenant Besemah Rogers PO Reina Marrero Community Awards Honorees: Alice Simmons- Community Board #1 Member Elizabeth… read more

Barrier Free Living's Supportive Housing program in the Bronx continues to accept applications as the facility moves toward an opening date. There are 50 units of Family Supportive Housing and 70 units of Single’s Supportive Housing. Learn more.… read more

Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden Domestic Violence program held a Caregivers Celebration on June 18. The event was to honor "all caregivers--parents, family, friends and foremost all the people who have cared for us and our ability to care for ourselves." Program Director Georgette Delinois (pictured at far left) kicked off the program which include an interpretive dance performance, a display of crochet work and a lunch buffet.… read more

Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden domestic violence program has filmed a video in American Sign Language to explain domestic violence and inform survivors with hearing loss how to seek assistance. Development of this video is an activity of BFL's 2012 Office on Violence Against Women disability grant program award, which focuses on building capacity to serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing survivors. Above photo: Secret Garden intern Morgane Vincent… read more

Working with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, BFL welcomed 24 volunteers to the Transitional Housing program as part of Aon Global Service Day on June 11, 2015. The hard-working volunteers painted and refurbished a lounge… read more

Renowned interior designer Kyle Timothy Blood is contributing his expertise to the Aon Global Service Day staff lounge rennovation project at Barrier Free Living on June 11. Inspired by the agency's mission and the passion of it's hard-working team, Kyle and junior designer Haylee Ressa took on the project, supporting the work of Aon Global Service Day. In 2014, Aon colleagues around the world united to support local charities during the firm’s annual day of volunteerism, with over 170 charities… read more

In line with the BFL core value, that "Healthy expression of all emotions, including anger, is respected" Barrier Free Living continues its work with staff and shelter residents on expressing anger in a productive way. Anger Specialist Anne Markowitz, LCSW (pictured) is guiding the work this summer. View our Mission, Vision and Values here.… read more

As part of Deloitte Impact Day 2015, volunteers painted and spruced up the computer room at Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing shelter for people with disabilities. The room is used by the shelter's 48 residents for computer training and for fellowship. Volunteers, guided by Facility Manager David Rodriguez and Development Manager Scott Hess , painted the… read more

Barrier Free Living's Supportive Housing apartments are ready for occupancy (70 singles units) and the team is accepting applications. "They city has granted us the temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) and we hope to start moving residents in in June," says Thomas Obrzut, Program Director at Supportive Housing. "This is an incredible opportunity for people with disabilities who are survivors of domestic violence, as well as veterans and physically disabled people." The apartment complex offers supportive services such as counseling, occupational… 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

The Leadership Team of Barrier Free Living is engaging in training this spring, in line with the agency's mission regarding racial equity. The agency supports the Human Services Council of New York's commitment to racial equity which states: The Human Services Council of New York (HSC) recognizes that racism exists in society. Beyond individual prejudice, racism is both historic and structural in nature. We recognize that racism affects communities served by human services organizations. This includes the inequitable distribution of resources that… read more

On Tuesday, April 14, FPWA and Baruch College officially concluded the first cohort of the Fundraising Executive Certificate Program, a collaboration with FPWA and the Baruch School of Public Affairs. In total, 19 students graduated with a Certificate in Fundraising after participating in a 10-week program and presenting a full-scale fundraising plan for their respective organizations. Scott Hess, Organizational Development Manager at Barrier Free Living was part of the program. "It was an amazing… read more