New Visions Blog

A Whole Lott More : Lott Industries in Toledo, Ohio, employs more than 1200 workers, all with developmental disabilities. For decades the company excelled in assembling car parts. However, with the decline of the auto industry in neighboring Detroit, Lott is threatened with closure. The company has twelve months to reinvent itself and to save the livelihoods of its employees. “A Whole Lott More”, a documentary feature, follows Lott’s critical year from the perspecitives of four unique and unforgettable… read more

Famed Photographer Bruce Weber's latest book “All-American Volume Thirteen: Born Ready: A Journal by Bruce Weber” (teNeues) consists of photos and essays on a number of subjects, most of which he didn’t photograph, from Homeboy Industries to Edie Windsor’s long relationship with her eventual spouse, Thea Spyer. Homeboy Industries serves high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with a continuum of free services and programs, and operates seven social enterprises that serve as job-training sites. Women's Wear Daily reports that: For this… read more

A CBS News story reports: Of all the thousands of draft hopefuls on NFL scouts' radars this fall, none has had a more interesting college career than Adham Talaat. You probably have never heard of Talaat or the school he plays for, Gallaudet University, a Division III school in Washington D.C. with an amazing history. Gallaudet, founded by Abraham Lincoln in 1864, is the only university in the world that serves the… read more

One Breath, Then Another: An Interactive Yoga Show chronicles Amanda Miller’s month long experience studying yoga on an ashram in India. The show depicts her quest for healing and empowerment to avoid destroying herself like her father. One Breath, Then Another: An Interactive Yoga Show Written & Performed by Amanda Erin Miller as part of Manhattan Repertory Theatre's STAGECRAFT PLAY FESTIVAL. 303 W. 42nd Street at 8th Avenue, on the 6th Floor.  Wednesday December 4 at 9 pm Friday December 6 at 9 pm Saturday December… read more

Hearts of Gold, which has taken on BFL's Freedom House emergency shelter as a sponsored program, held its Fiesta Latina Gala this past month. Pictured at the gala are: left to right - Rhonda Ross, Board of Directors of Hearts of Gold; Myra Ricard, Director of Social Services at Freedom House; and Deborah Koenigsberger, Founder and Executive Director of Hearts of Gold… read more

The New York Times reports: New York City has violated the rights of about 900,000 of its residents with disabilities by failing to accommodate for their needs during emergencies, a federal judge ruled. The ruling arose from a lawsuit filed in 2011 after Tropical Storm Irene, but came into sharper focus after Hurricane Sandy, when many New Yorkers with disabilities were stranded for days. The judge, Jesse M. Furman of Federal District Court in Manhattan, found that the city, through “benign… read more

The Supportive Housing Network of New York reports that after several debates in which the word "homeless" was never uttered, moderators at last week's final debate asked candidates to detail their plans to reduce NYC's record level of homelessness, this a result of a United to End Homelessness twitter rally. United to End Homelessness held two Twitter rallies in October to urge New York City's mayoral candidates and debate moderators to discuss homelessness. The Coalition's efforts paid off. Debate moderators… read more

ABCRadio National reports that: A shocking new report conducted by the University of New South Wales has revealed that violent experiences faced by disabled women are not only more common, but will last longer and result in more severe injuries. Dr Leanne Dowse, lead researcher of the ‘Stop the Violence’ project, says a survey conducted as part of the research shows that service providers across the disability, justice and mental health sectors were able to identify that at least a quarter… read more

A special ribbon cutting ceremony was held at BFL's Freedom House program to kick off Heart's of Gold sponsoring the shelter for the next year. The Hearts of Gold mission is to "foster sustainable change in lifestyle and levels of self-sufficiency for homeless mothers and their children. " Hearts of Gold's next event at Freedom House is a Halloween party in October for the children and families residing at the domestic… read more

Georgia teenager Zach Hodskins, a 17-year-old was born without the lower half of his left arm, earned a spot on one of the nation's top teams, the University of Florida. The news was reported nationally on a variety of sources, including CBS News, and has been taken up as a strong new inspiration for people with disabilities. Click here to read the CBS News Story… read more

Theresa MacIntosh, founder of BFL's Survivor's Speaker's Bureau, participated in artist Suzanne Lacy's Between the Door and the Street, a political performance that brought together close to 400 women in Brooklyn. "It was an absolutely awesome experience and the first time our Speaker's Bureau participants were able to speak. They made me so proud," said MacIntosh, pictured at center with her group. Barrier Free Living. Inc. Speakers Bureau was founded in May 2012 by… read more

The following article will appear in Barrier Free Living's annual newsletter (Nov. 2013) Breaking Barriers.  To learn more, or receive the free newsletter, contact [email protected] Antoinette Calabretta, a Case Manager at Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden Program, shares her personal journey dealing with a disability and becoming a powerful force of change in the lives of the people she works with.  Of note: Alejandrina Cruz, who Antoinette works with at the Secret Garden, was featured in a New York Times story… read more

Barrier Free Living's 25 Videos of Hope Campaign is featured in the Oct. 20 Crains New York article  "Making the holidays count". The article notes that: Overall, the Internet has been a major boon to holiday fundraising, especially for smaller organizations that can't afford to host big galas and lack boards crowded with deep-pocketed philanthropists. Barrier Free Living, a Manhattan-based nonprofit that provides services for the disabled, will start a monthlong campaign in December featuring one daily video of… read more

Secret Garden team members will present at the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Conference: Prevention, Intervention, and Collaboration: Effective Strategies to End Domestic Violence that will be held on October 28-30, 2013 in South Carolina. The Secret Garden's Georgette Delionis and Jules Perkel will present Living Practice Considerations for Survivors of Domestic Violence with Disabilities. The annual conference is hosted by the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Click to… read more

Barrier Free Living's CEO Paul Feuerstein will receive the Humanitarian Award at the 12th Annual 504 Northstar Town Hall Awards Dinner on October 25th in Harlem. The event, which includes live jazz, a buffet and an open bar, will be held from 6p.m.-10p.m. at the Alhambra Ballroom, 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd between 125th and 126th Street in Harlem, NY.  Feuerstein is one of a host of honorees. Barrier Free Living works with people with disabilities and also survivors of… read more

Singer Theresa Sareo, who lost her leg after being hit by a drunk driver in 2002, will be featured on Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb on Thursday October 10 at 10 a.m. EST. Theresa, who visits trauma patients to inspire them with her music and journey, will be featured on this season's premiere of the popular 'Everyone Has A Story' segment of the show.  Kathie Lee and David Friedman have… read more

Join Barrier Free Living and our fellow sponsors on Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. for the annual Shine The Light on Domestic Violence rally in Duffy Square, NYC, 47 street/Broadway. October is DV Awareness month. Click here to learn more.… read more

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s Disability Awareness Month is a month-long series of programs, including family activities, specialized tours, and speaker events. The goal of Disability Awareness Month is to bring together families, children, and adults with varying needs, and advocates who are involved with creating and supporting opportunities for them. This month celebrates our differences and raises awareness for bettering cultural experiences for everyone, including children and adults who are, or work with, people who are Deaf or… read more

In celebration of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 2013  The Maria Project will be hosting a GIVE VOICE and GIVE PEACE Benefit with Tony Award Winner and Tap Dance Sensation – SAVION GLOVER.  Click here to get tix. The event is Tuesday, October 8 at New York Live Arts / 219 W. 19th Street (between 7th and 8th) at 7:30 PM (Doors Open at 7:00 PM).  Tickets Start at $30.00 / Limited Seating. To learn about The Maria Project click… read more

AWARE (Assisting Women through Action, Resources and Education) hosted a Family Health Fair at Freedom House Emergency Shelter on September 28. The group  also donated a new baby stroller to a consumer at BFL's Secret Garden Domestic Violence program this month (picture above). The Freedom House event, CARE FOR YOURSELF, CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY, CARE FOR YOUR FUTURE included doctors, nurses, nutritionists & other healthcare experts engaging with the shelter residents and… read more

Work with Us, an exhibition of stories from people living in poverty and marginalisation around the world, demonstrating their visions for change in their communities, runs through Sept. 27 at The Roger Smith Hotel in New York City. The hotel is at 501 Lexington Avenue.  A Documentary screening will be held September 20, 6:30pm. Click here for more info.… read more

Barrier Free Justice will hold: Making a Difference: Conversations about empowerment and advocacy within the disability community. Making a Difference, held in collaboration with Project Shield, will be Thursday, September 26th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (registration begins at 9:30 am) on the 19th Floor at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in downtown Brooklyn. Presentations feature: Brain Injury Association of NYS, Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled and more.… read more

Laurence A. Pagnoni, MA, MPA releases his book, The Nonprofit Fundraising Solution  this October. The book says Pagnoni "guides non-profits to increased revenues to fulfill their mission. Revealing the critical link between successful fundraising and organizational development, I try to offer an insider’s view that I think you'll appreciate. The book will help non-profits: develop a donor constituency where none exists, ensure fundraising support from your board and executive… read more

A tweet from United to End Homelessness has gained attention. UEH tweeted: More people were homeless last night than voted in the Republican primary. Please RT if you think 57,000 homeless NYers is unacceptable. View the tweet, click here. UEH is a coalition of advocates, homeless and formerly homeless individuals, service providers, faith leaders, and experts on the issue of homelessness in New York City.  UEH also wrote: New York City held its high-profile primary elections… read more

The 13th annual Matthew Sapolin Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (formerly the Mayor’s Cup) will bring the nation’s best wheelchair basketball teams to New York City for two days of non-stop action on October 5 & 6. The tournament, held at Manhattan College in the Bronx, is the largest of its kind in the Northeast and has become one of the premier events on the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) schedule. Admission is… read more

CBS News reports on a weightlifter who's lifting spirits. Born with Down syndrome, Jonathan Stoklosa, 31, has the power to lift more than weights. Steve Hartman reports. View the video click here.… read more

New Destiny’s Executive Director, Carol Corden’s op-ed on the importance of addressing the crisis of homelessness for survivors of domestic violence was published this Sunday in the Daily News. She writes: Every day in New York City, the NYPD responds to over 700 incidents of domestic violence. It impacts every neighborhood of the city, and is currently the leading cause of murder for women in New York City. That’s why it’s important for the next mayor to have a comprehensive plan… read more

Freedom House will hold its 'Leaf it to Kids' fall foliage event on Thursday, September 12, 2013 from 1-4pm (for ages 1-4yrs). The event is sponsored by Moodys. Moody's 14 volunteers will participate, working along side staff on a host of activities… read more

The Disability and Abuse Project released a report that gives low grades to state and local agencies for failing to respond adequately to widespread abuse of children and adults with disabilities. The Report -- "Abuse of People with Disabilities: Victims and Their Families Speak Out" -- analyzes the results of what may be the largest survey of its kind in the nation.  More than 7,200 people took the survey which inquired into the experiences of people with disabilities as victims of abuse and bullying. Family… read more