New Visions Blog

Geek News reports: For all the technological advancements we’re seeing in this digital age, little consideration has been given to those who cannot see what appears on a smooth, pixelated screen. There’s text-to-speech and the spotty accuracy of Siri commands, but the lack of devices supporting Braille and their cost, which can be upwards of $3,000, has hampered literacy among the blind community. However, a South Korean start-up company wants to change the statistics and empower the visually impaired with Braille-supported… read more

The United Spinal Association and other disability advocates held a roll-in on Thursday, July 30 at noon in front of Uber’s Manhattan office. The United Spinal Association reports that: Uber has not one wheelchair-accessible taxi, even though it has more than 19,000 vehicles in New York City.* They are asking Uber to stop discriminating against the community in New York City and nationwide. * UberWAV is not a provider of accessible taxi services. It merely forwards your request for an accessible taxi to non-Uber companies… read more

The ICS Artists on Wheels Gallery is featuring an exhibit at 25 Elm Place, 5th Floor (between Livingston & Fulton Streets), Downtown Brooklyn. The ICS Artists on Wheels Gallery and Creative Writing Circle programs provide free classes, materials and studio space to any New York City resident with a physical disability. The program works with  New Yorkers whose lives have been changed forever by a stray bullet, a stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, an accident or… read more

In celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the passing of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the "Gaining Access: The New York City Disability Rights Movement" exhibition looks at the growth of the Disabilities Rights Movement in New York City. Gaining Access" is curated by historian Warren Shaw, and presented in partnership between the Brooklyn Historical Society and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.  It will run through October 23, 2015 at the Brooklyn Historical Society. The Brooklyn Historical Society… read more

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), led by the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, BRIC FLIXis very proud to announce its partnership with ReelAbilities. The nation's largest disability film festival, ReelAbilities is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. On Tuesday, June 9 at 7PM, JCC Manhattan, ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival… 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

Join keynote speaker Simi Linton and leaders in the dance and disability communities to discuss the state of the art form. What are the opportunities for educating, developing, collaborating with and presenting disabled artists? How can disability advance innovation, excellence, and impact in dance? This free, day-long series of convening focuses on a future for dance created and experienced with disabled New Yorkers. Commemorating the 25th anniversary year of the Americans… read more

The HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, with flicks ranging from the cheeky classic The Poseidon Adventure to Director Terrence Malick's masterful debut film Badlands, has accessible options available for visitors A Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) service provides open-captions and Assistive Listening Devices are available for each film. visitors are asked to go to the projection trailer on the Upper Terrace for more information… read more

The NY Daily News Reports: In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, Mayor de Blasio is declaring July as “Disability Pride Month” and hosting a parade to commemorate the landmark legislation. The month-long commemoration and the parade will be annual occurrences on the city calendar, the mayor’s press office said. U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who authored the ADA, will be the July 12th parade’s grand marshal… read more

On Monday, June 29th, FPWA hosted a Ribbon Cutting and Open House to welcome member agencies, elected officials, partners and friends to its new office and conference center. Special guests Mayor Dinkins; Deputy Mayor Richard Buery; Craig McKay, Chair of the FPWA Board Real Estate Committee; Jeremy Kohomban of Children's Village, a founding FPWA Member Agency; Jeffrey Lee of the New York City Economic Development Corporation; FPWA Faith & Justice Fellow Pastor Brian Ellis Gibbs; and representatives from the Governor's Office, Senator Squadron's… 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

Former BFL Occupational Therapy Intern Leatal Cohen and her husband Eleor gave back this month, donating supplies for the Freedom House shelter's Spa Day events.… 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

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

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

The Disabled Foodie (David Friedman recently featured in AM NewYork)  is planning the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party.  This barbecue event features pitmasters from across the country. Sample barbecue while enjoying beautiful Madison Square Park. Attending the event is free. You pay for any food and/or drinks you choose to purchase. When: Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM… read more

AM NewYork reports: Were the grab bars in the restroom to your liking, sir? A discerning Jackson Heights diner has begun a restaurant review blog TheDisabledFoodie.com, that evaluates eateries not just on the freshness, taste and quality of their food, but on the ability of disabled people to consume it. The blog "is an awareness campaign," explained founder David Friedman, 38. People without disabilities often don't fully understand the obstacles encountered by those who have them, he said, and people with… read more

Noah Galloway, the Iraq war vet and amputee who beat out 1200 competitors to be Men’s Health magazine’s cover model for November, 2014 continued to inspire people with disabilities as he landed in the finals on Dancing With The Stars 2015. Read BFL's interview with Noah here.… read more

The 7th Annual Handprints of the Heart sponsored by Goldman Sachs took place this month at Freedom House. The event is a celebration of Mother's Day and includes activities and a lunch with the families at the shelter. The volunteers worked with young shelter residents to create ceramic handprints, t-shirts and jewelry that kids presented to their parents after lunch… read more

New York City first lady Chirlane McCray visited Barrier Free Living's Freedom House Domestic Violence program today, speaking with residents of the shelter and touring the facility. Freedom House is nationally recognized as the first fully accessible emergency shelter for disabled victims of domestic violence and their families. Paul Feuerstein, President/CEO of Barrier Free Living and Myra Ricard, Freedom House program director guided the tour which included a visit to the… read more

BFL President/CEO Paul Feuerstein kicked off St. John University's Turn Off The Violence Week with a moving keynote address. Joining Paul was Zenaida T., who shared her story as a survivor of domestic violence. Picture are (L to R): BFL's Scott Hess, Paul Feuerstein, St. John's Hannah Stravers, Zenaida, Secret Garden's Georgette Delinois and St. John's Ruth DeRosa. Read more.… read more

The FACSA Foundation and Daimon Glenn are partnering to present the Global Pop Up Art project, April 25, 2015, online, with your help, by sharing the stories of survivors, art, music, dance, film, poetry, writing, photography, and other forms of art to express the pain we have endured so long; to give power to the voices who have been silent for so long. Global Pop Up States: We are… read more

Barrier Free Living will be a featured partner in St. John University's 8th Annual Turn Off The Violence Clothes Line Project event, April 20-24. The Staten Island campus of St. John's will  recognize those victims of violence who come from "many different countries, races, religions, and socioeconomic statuses, and to take a stand against all power-based personal violence that often occurs in personal relationships." The week kicks off with a Key Note Address by BFL CEO/Founder Paul Feuerstein. Other events include a… read more

Spread the Sparkle will host a special Easter event for residents and participants at Barrier Free Livings' Freedom House and Secret Garden Domestic Violence programs. The event, for singles and families, will include a sumptuous meal prepared by special chefs and a performance by an opera singer. Spread the Sparkle Founder Abbey LeVine shares her story on how this new organization got started: After decades of unsuccessfully looking for… read more

Identities.Mic reports: British domestic violence awareness organization Women's Aid launched a billboard in London this week featuring a woman with two black eyes, swollen features and lacerations. It's a powerful image on its own, but the ad takes things further by actually changing based on people's responses to it. If passers-by ignore the image, it remains stagnant, but if they take the time to stop and look, the ad becomes interactive and the woman's face begins to heal. According to an explanatory video about the… read more

  The scene was electric and the art was powerful at the March 10  Art Is Power event held at New York City's trending DL Club, with donations benefiting the programs of Barrier Free Living. The weekly event (hosted by Savior Elmundo & Collage NY) features an every changing mash up of painters, visual artists and dancers. The March 10… read more

For the third consecutive year, the Assurant Foundation has awarded Barrier Free Living a $10,000 New Growth Fund grant in support of the agency’s work with severely disabled formerly homeless individuals. In 2014, The Assurant Foundation New Growth Fund supported BFL’s new Project Give Back, where a former shelter resident designs a workshop or project to inspire current shelter residents. Funds were also used for a new refrigerator for the shelter's dining room, which serves three meals a day to the… read more

http://youtu.be/AbqT_ubkT0Y In celebration of International Women's Day, take part in YouTube’s global #DearMe initiative to inspire and empower young girls everywhere. We all know that growing up is tough. But if you could go back in time, what wisdom would you share with your teenage self? It all starts with two words. Dear Me… read more

An intern, an energetic five-year-old and a current receptionist at the White House. These individuals, among others, have all been recognized as part of Disability.gov’s “No Boundaries” Photo Project series. Introduced four years ago, the series has profiled 12 individuals with disabilities, capturing the diverse skills, talents and life stories of each. Since then, their photographs (yes, actual people with disabilities, not actors or stock photography) have appeared in several Disability.gov marketing materials, including fact sheets, posters and… read more