New Visions Blog

Myra Ricard, Program Director at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House emergency domestic violence shelter was one of the women honored at the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agency's (FPWA) Women in Human Services Hall of Fame ceremony on March 13, 2018 in Albany. "I am very honored," says Myra. "I have been doing this work for many years. It's a passion for me and I will continue to do work with domestic violence survivors for years to come,." FPWA… read more

A call for entries is out for a DYCD Sexual Assault Awareness Month Youth Art Project. The contest is open to any teens across NYC, regardless of whether they attend a DYCD-funded after-school program or not.  New this year, DYCD will release limited edition t-shirts in April featuring youth artwork in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Teens can submit original artwork by January 26 for a chance to… read more

BFL CEO Paul Feuerstein is profiled in the New York Law School Center for Real Estate Studies' The Rooftop Projects newsletter this May. Read the article. … read more

This March, Barrier Free Living’s (BFL) Freedom House domestic violence program created an American Sign Language (ASL) video as a way to share information with arriving Deaf and Hard of Hearing residents. The film, to be used internally by Freedom House, is supported by the Office on Violence Against Women Disabilities Grant Program. Barrier Free Living's Director of Communications Scott Hess shot the film, working with consultant and long time collaborator Blake Drummond of Diagonal Media.… read more

Spread The Sparkle hosted a holiday event for Barrier Free Living on December 25, providing a sumptuous dinner buffet, a visit from Santa and gifts for nearly 180 attending. Tenants of Barrier Free Living apartments, residents of the agency's Freedom House domestic violence shelter and consumers of BFL's Secret Garden domestic violence program attended the festivities. The day's events included a photo booth, Santa Claus, caroling and more. Spread The… read more

BFL Apartments tenant Felicia Ridges hopes to further her education and career goals, using the fund raising platform Benevolent. Felicia worked with her social worker David Kwon, posting a video on the site about her journey, from surviving domestic violence to finding her own home. "Felicia's goal is to help others who have experienced similar issues by becoming a drug counselor. Her first step is to get her GED then she… read more

Barrier Free Living will be a participate in St. John University’s 9th Annual Turn Off The Violence week, April 25-27. The Queens 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.” Turn off the Violence Week promotes "awareness, empowerment… read more

Rick Davy, founder and Executive Director of the BK Style Foundation, Monica Watkins, Ford Model and founder of anti-trafficking organization Beauty for Freedom have partnered with Steps to End Family Violence in creating the Denim Day NYC #IAmNotInvisible Video and Photographic Campaign raising awareness for the survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Launching April 2016, the campaign’s mission is to engage New Yorkers in the fight to end sexual and domestic violence and to raise funds and awareness for Denim Day… read more

About a dozen Freedom House team members participated in a 4-week ASL workshop this spring. Caelan Manning, a Barrier Free Living case manager, ran the workshop. The goal was to educate and inform staff about working and interacting with the Deaf community. Manning hopes that "staff will be able to use what they've learned in emergency situations, and also in general to show some kind of unity and acceptance with/of the Deaf community."… read more

Shine Foundation kicked off a new 4-week Financial Engagement workshop for residents at Barrier Free Living's  Freedom House  emergency shelter this March. The goal in the next 4 weeks, says Shine coordinators, is to "have clients set and achieve their savings goals for housing." The mission of Shine Foundation is to improve the financial health of homeless abuse survivors in NYC and Baltimore.  First session residents identified over $400 in savings. For additional… read more

Freedom House launched a training roster through the spring of 2016 to educate and empower staff at the domestic violence program. Trainings range from  DV 101, to Child Abuse Reporting Training to a presentation on deaf history.The staff also attended a Demystifying ACS presentation this spring.… read more

Scott Hess, Director of Communications at Barrier Free Living, has joined the Denim Day NYC Executive Board as a Member-At-Large. Denim Day NYC is a coalition of community agencies, elected officials, students, and volunteers united to promote awareness around the issue of sexual assault. Denim Day is April 27. For the past 17 years, Peace Over Violence has run its Denim Day campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month. The campaign was originally triggered by a… read more

Photo Alice Sheppard . Credit: Jeffrey Lee/On the Spot Image Registration for Dance/NYC's 2016 Pre-Symposium Sessions is Now Open! When: Saturday, February 27, 2016, 10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Where: Gibney Dance Center, 280 Broadway (enter at 53 Chambers) How: Register Now. Symposium Registration is required. Pre-Symposium - FREE for Symposium attendees Full Symposium Registration - $125 Artist Rate - $50 A Pre-Symposium program, part of Dance/NYC’s initiative to increase access and inclusion to the art form, is presented in partnership with Art Beyond Sight… read more

December toy donations from both individuals and agencies like the FPWA and Second Chance Toys brighten the holiday for the 144 children living at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter and BFL Apartments as well as our Secret Garden program. Learn more about donating a toy, your time or much needed financial resources to Barrier Free Living here.… 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

Axis Dance will perform Nov. 17 at 7pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Seen on So You Think You Can Dance! AXIS Dance Company is one of the world’s leading and most innovative ensembles of dancers with and without disabilities.Paving the way for physically integrated dance, each year AXIS shares its cutting-edge artistic and education/outreach work with thousands all over the world.AXIS exists to… read more

The Fall 2015 Breaking Barriers newsletter, with a focus on the agency's new BFL apartments and the ribbon cutting event, is available to download. Download the PDF here.… read more

Come celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with NYC Parks! In Invitation to Dance 23-year-old Simi Linton was injured while hitchhiking to Washington to protest the war in Vietnam. Suddenly a young disabled college student, she confronted discrimination she couldn't have imagined before. Simi emerges as a resourceful activist, and in time realizes that love, sexuality, and dance can once again be central to her life. McCarren Park, Brooklyn NY. Sunday, July 5, 2015 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Info. here.… 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

The Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing held a rally Friday, June 12th  at 11:00am at Governor’s Cuomo’s NYC office (633 Third Avenue –between 40th & 41st Streets) in support of a new statewide supportive housing agreement. BFL's new Supportive Housing team attended. Pictured, from left are Program Director Thomas Obrzut and Director of Social Services Denise Shaw The Campaign is calling 35,000 units of supportive housing for individuals and families with special needs over the next 10… read more

Second Chance Toys posted about the Viacommunity Day 2015. BFL's domestic violence programs received over 100 toys for young residents. Read the post here.… read more

Barrier Free Living's Supportive Housing program is slated to open late spring/early summer 2015. Pictured above in a new studio unit are: Thomas Obrzut, Program Director, and Denise Shaw, Director of Social Services. More information… read more

Families from BFL's Secret Garden and Freedom House domestic violence programs were the honored guests at an Easter event featuring a sumptuous luncheon, an Easter egg decorating station and a whole lot of sparkle. Spread The Sparkle, an organization whose mission is to "create events focused on celebrating family for individuals and kids who have no prior traditions",  treated 8 BFL families to a day of joy. The luncheon, prepared by Valerie and… 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

For NYC children & Youth with disabilities and their families. Summer Fun & More has expanded to offer a face-to-face opportunity to explore an incredible range of year-round programs, afterschool supports, arts, travel, sports, and health resources. Exciting newcomers to the fair include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, Brooklyn Robot Foundry, NY Transit Museum, NYC Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Easter Seals, Sparkidz, Reel Abilities, the 92nd Street… read more

http://youtu.be/ZAgXgKQ7viY UNYQ reported: “It’s been crazy,” said Minsky. “People are starting to recognize me so this was the best possible opportunity to show off my freshly designed fairing.” Retired Marine Cpl. Alex Minsky’s life took a surreal and unexpected turn this year as he sat on a couch next to Barbara Walters , Sherri Shepherd, andJenny McCarthy . The ladies of The View were admiring him, not just over his heroic military service or the fact that he’d been… read more

E-Pao.net reports: Emphasizing the significance of organizing awareness programme at the village level, Mangboi Singsit, Project Officer of Manipur North Economic Development Association (MANEDA) has pointed out that most of the disabled people living in villages are victims of domestic violence and they don't enjoyed the rights entitled to them by the Constitution of India. The Project Officer of MANEDA was speaking during a Seminar on the Rights of Persons with Disability jointly organized by All Disabled Union Sadar Hills (ADUSH)… read more

A look at Purposeful Parenting as it relates to domestic violence. BFL's Cynthia Amodeo explores the topic. July was Purposeful Parenting month, which led to a flurry of articles, Facebook posts and twitter bites regarding the concept.  In general, Purposeful Parenting aims to build healthy relationships with children, to understand a child’s development and to help them grow in a way that emphasizes their potential.  Being “purposeful” in parenting can include meeting a child’s essential needs (bathing, feeding) or involve more… read more

The first annual Soulful Closet Sale will be held Jan. 23, with a portion of proceeds going to  BFL's  award winning Secret Garden program for people with disabilities who have experienced domestic violence. Lori (Dame) Sutherland, who organized the event says: "We will be selling prized outfits, shoes, accessories and jewelry – either brand new (with tags!), or gently worn (and are in beautiful condition). From Banana Republic to Laboutins, darlings!… read more