New Visions Blog

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month by joining with the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence for the Third Annual Shine the Light on Domestic Violence on October 7 at 6:30 PM, Duffy Square in Times Square (SW Corner of Broadway and 47th Street). Barrier Free Living joins a host of sponsors along with the Borough President to take a stand. Click here… read more

Art created by a Norfolk poet will be highlighted alongside celebrities’ work in a national exhibition exploring life and disability one year after the Paralympics, reporst the Great Yarmouth Mercury. Vince Laws, from Hall Road, Oulton, near Aylsham, who is HIV positive and has anxiety and depression, created his text-based Invisible Disabilities piece for the Postcards from the Edges exhibition put on by national disability charity United Response. More than… read more

Hosted by MTV, funds will be raised for Hope for Them Charity during NYC Fashion Week 2013. The MTV charity event will be at the  Highline Ballroom – and will feature a swimwear fashion show, music by world renown DJ Sak Noel and a one hour sponsored open bar. Starting at 8pm Privé Group is gathering "the finest of New York City’s high society for a fashion show by Eternal Reign presenting the launch of Letica Beauty Bag & Chiqui Delgados’ new… read more

The NY Daily News reports: less than a year after a rising high school football player's right leg snapped back during a game, which led to its amputation, the Montana senior is back on two feet and wiping the field with his competitors. In Koni Dole's first game of the season Friday, the Huntley Project high school senior snagged the ball and ran for two touchdowns on a prosthetic leg, helping lead his team to victory. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/high-school-amputee-amazing-football-comeback-article-1.1444572#ixzz2drHH5qZ6… read more

Shinnyo Lantern Floating for Peace will hold a special 'Be A Light For Peace' event Sept. 22 at Trump Rink in New York City's Central Park. For more info. click here.… read more

Hearts of Gold, in conjunction with The Thrifty Hog boutique, sponsored an end of summer event to benefit homeless mothers and children, donating gifts to the kids of Freedom House Emergency Shelter. "The children each received a backpack with supplies, a new pair of sneakers, an outfit, and gift card to Children's Place," said Cynthia Amodeo, Director of Family Services at Freedom House. "At the end there was a red carpet where the families took photos with a… read more

The Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities (MOPD) and the New York Yankees celebrated  Disability Awareness Night as part of the MOPD’s commemoration of the 23RD Anniversary of the  Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Before the Yankees took on the Los Angeles Angels of  Anaheim at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, MOPD Commissioner Victor Calise and MOPD Deputy  Commissioner/General Counsel Jason Mischel presented a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Mayor Michael… read more

A free training and workshop addressing attitudes about human sexuality and healthy relationships for people with developmental disabilities will be offered at three different locations on Tuesday, Aug. 27, and Wednesday, Aug. 28. Supporting Healthy Sexuality of Persons with Developmental Disabilities meets from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at First Baptist Church, Streator; with another session offered at the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living in La Salle from 5 to 8 p.m.. The Aug. 28 session is from… read more

Mark O'Meara, Staff Writer, Novogradac & Company reports on Barrier Free Living Aparatments new housing under construction in the Bronx. View a PDF of the story here.… read more

The New York State Office for the  Prevention of Domestic Violence  OPDV Bulletin/Summer 2013 reports on working with Deaf Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence. The story notes that while limited research exists regarding the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence within the Deaf community, agencies that provide Deaf services report that Deaf individuals experience domestic and sexual violence at significantly greater rates than hearing individuals. Ongoing training and education about Deaf culture and communication can build trust with the Deaf… read more

Moodys, working with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, sponsored BFL's Fiesta Wellness Day at the Transitional Housing Program this August. Fifteen Moody's volunteers worked with BFL's dynamic Occupational Therapy Department to create a carnival style event.  The day featured: gardening workshops; a guide to healthy eating booth; an ask the nurse booth; an all day spa and wellness room; and a yoga class run by Laura Staton of Lulu… read more

Lulu OT+Yoga joined BFL's Wellness Fiesta this August as a sponsor, and will lead a chair yoga workshop at the vibrant event made possible by a grant from Moody's. Laura Staton of Lulu OT + Yoga will run the workshop. She is a Senior Occupational Therapist at Staten Island University Hospital and teaches Yoga Therapeutics in Park Slope Brooklyn. Laura says: "Yoga possesses therapeutic value at any age and especially… read more

Barrier Free Living (BFL) recently celebrated the started of construction on its first permanent supportive housing development that, when complete, will provide 120 apartments with a preference for the disabled and survivors of domestic abuse. Barrier Free Living Apartments, on East 139th Street in the Bronx, is being developed by BFL with collaboration and support from variety of City and State agencies, as well as Alembic Development, Foxy Management, the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Citi Community Capital, and Richman… read more

Tune in this Wednesday (7/17) at 11pm to hear host Allison Sesso interview Fred Scaglione editor of the New York Nonprofit Press discuss the upcoming Mayoral election and the recent "Revitalize, Rethink & Rebuild Neighborhoods." Followed by host Michael Stoller with an interview with Kathy Wylde, CEO of the Partnership for NYC, who will discuss the Partnership's new report on NYC jobs, and how the business community and the nonprofit human services sector can… read more

CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine's Career Expo For People With Disabilities brings industry and government together with people with disabilities who are entry level and professionals in all career disciplines on July 19, 2013 at: 10:00AM - 3:00PM The New Yorker Hotel 481 8th Ave. & 34th Street New York, NY 10001 CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine, established in 1986, is the nation's first and only career-guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities who are at undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels. Each… read more

Project Open House (POH), administered by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), removes architectural barriers in the homes of people with permanent disabilities. This program is designed to increase independence in the activities of daily living, thus helping people with disabilities remain a part of their communities. POH provides an opportunity for many individuals to modify their living environments. Click here to learn more.… read more

The Gingerbread Pimp by Molly Reynolds will be presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in July. Click here for tickets and times. The Gingerbread Pimp is the story of aspiring Broadway actress Coco who thinks she’s found her perfect match in romantic leading man Charlie. But when things take an unexpected turn, she descends into a very real and dangerous world of jealousy and extreme control. A wry… read more

Independence Care System (ICS), dedicated to the health and well being of adults with physical disabilities and senior adults, will hold its annual art show 'Around My Way' on Wednesday July 17, from 4pm-8pm. The exhibit and July 17 reception is free, open to the public, and held at the ICS Brooklyn Center at 25 Elm Place, 5th Floor (cross streets: Livington St. & Fulton Mall.) More Info. call: 718-907-1622… read more

AWARE organized and hosted a Family Carnival for the residents of Freedom House, the country's only domestic violence shelter for disabled residents. The Carnival featured face-painting, glitter tattoos, a photo booth, basketball, live music, cotton-candy and even an appearance by Elmo.  The event hosted nearly 135 residents and approximately 35 AWARE volunteers. AWARE (Assisting Women through Action, Resources & Education) is a grass-roots organization dedicated to promoting awareness and generating funds in order to make meaningful improvements in the… read more

The Human Services Council of New York (HSC) premieres its new weekly, hour-long radio series, Voices of Human Services, on WWRL (1600 AM) on Wednesday, June 26, from 11 pm to 12 midnight. Co-moderated by HSC Executive Director Michael Stoller and Deputy Executive Director Allison Sesso,  the weekly broadcast will explore a range of topics related to the human services needs of New Yorkers and the public policies that have an impact on the effective delivery of nonprofit human… read more

This June, the National Council on Disability joins the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month by celebrating their commitment to advancing the rights for all Americans, including LGBT Americans, and LGBT Americans with Disabilities. Read more here.… read more

BFL Team member Aeilushi Mistry (pictured, JULIENNE SCHAER photo) was featured in a recent New York Times piece about the upcoming Hindu Lamp Ceremony. The New York Times Wrote: Why not wind down the season back where we started, at Brooklyn Bridge Park, with a pair of intriguing events in August. On Aug. 2, Aeilushi Mistry, a classical Indian dancer and arts educator, will conduct a Hindu aarti lamp-lighting ceremony, a traditional petition… read more

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

Known as The Blind Cook, Christine Ha was the first blind contestant on MasterChef and the winner of the third season. An inspiration to people with disabilities, she also had a new cookbook,  Recipes from My Home Kitchen… read more

The Story of Luke is a new comedy about Luke, a young man with autism who embarks on a quest for a job and a girlfriend. Winner of Best Film at Irvine International Film Festival & San Diego Film Festival, and Audience Awards at Fort Lauderdale Film Festival & Bahamas International Film Festival… read more

The Ground Breaking for BFL's $42 million two building apartment complex in in the Bronx on June 4 drew supporters, officials and was covered by several news networks in NYC including WNBC, WPIX11, News12 and News12 en espanol. New York City's Housing Development Corp. (HDC), the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) along with the NY State Homeless Housing and Assistance Corp. (HHAC) joined Barrier Free Living, Alembic Development… read more

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

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

On Thursday, May 16th the HOPE Program hosted its second annual A Taste of HOPE event, a celebration of tastings, toasts and transformations at Steelcase in Manhattan. Barrier Free Living's HR/Organizational Development Team attended, joining a packed crowd at the stunning Steelcase venue overlooking Columbus Circle. Guests included the founder of HOPE Deborah Antoine, (pictured with Dr. Clarel Antoine). Taste of Hope featured a host of award-winning partners, including: Inside Park at… read more

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