Domestic Violence & Disabilities

Our Latest DV Initiatives

The BFL team shares nearly 40 years of experience, knowledge and growth in the domestic violence and disabilities field.

October Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Team Resources & Outreach

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence October Calendar of Events.

10/18 from 12pm-1pm  Secret Garden’s Sara Eldridge will be part of the Exhale to Inhale Mental Health Panel. Also check out the group’s Week of Courage featuring Trauma-Informed Yoga Classes, a DJ Dance Party, a Meditation and a Sound Bath.

10/20, 10am – VA’s Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Resource Fair (flyer)

10/28, 12pm – Queensborough Community College – Resources for Domestic Violence Survivors During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Barrier Free Living Deaf Services Team member Allison offers a brief introduction to the services provided by the Deaf Services Team. Barrier Free Living’s Deaf Services team works with survivors of domestic violence at Secret Garden, our community based domestic violence program and Freedom House, our domestic violence crisis shelter. The Deaf Services team includes deaf, ASL fluent social workers and case managers.

All services are free and confidential for women and men ages 16 and over who have experienced emotional, physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse. Services include counseling, case management, advocacy, and referrals to legal, medical and emergency resources including food, clothing and vocational services. For more information, please call the Barrier Free Living Deaf Services at 646-807-4013. Article: Intimate Partner Violence In The Deaf Community

Barrier Free Living OT intern Arthur guides us through a simple origami activity to help us cope with social distancing.

Anne Markowitz, L.C.S.W., is a consultant for Barrier Free Living providing workshops around the topic of anger. She shares a few tips about maintaining balance during this challenging period. This week, Anne asks: How do we manage the anxiety and instability of the next few weeks or months? Read Anne’s article on anxiety. Read Anne’s Article on Keeping Balance.

Learn More About: Barrier Free Living: 40 Years & Growing Barrier Free Living’s Clothesline Project Diana Turner: A Fierce Sense of Community BFL Apartments’ Tenant Miss Flo Teams With Social Worker For Success BFL’s Freedom House Launches Art Therapy Group  February Is Teen Dating Awareness Month Unique Issues Faced By Deaf & Hard of Hearing Survivors Insights From Secret Garden Program  Advocate Spotlight: Vangie Leon Advocate Spotlight: Irma Williams  September Is Deaf Awareness Month  Freedom House: Working With Children In Our Domestic Violence Shelter June Is Elder Abuse Month Freedom House: Guiding Families to Heal  Trauma Disables and Disability Traumatizes: Part 1 of 3 Trauma Disables and Disability Traumatizes: Part 2 of 3 Trauma Disables and Disability Traumatizes: Part 3 of 3 Serving Male Domestic Violence Survivors In Shelter

Wreath of Strength Event December 1!

Please join us for our magical holiday fund-raising zoom event celebrating the kick off of our 40th year as an agency working with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities.

Tuesday, December 2, 2020
Noon-1pm

The Wreath of Strength will feature live music with DJ Sha Savage , stories from volunteers and survivors we serve, live carols, poetry, give-aways a visit from Santa Clause and a giant live wreath lighting!

Grab a free ticket here! We can’t wait to see you.

Contributor Sara Eldridge, LMSW, is the Assistant Program Director of Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden domestic violence program. She is the host of Sit Down With Sara. 

In this episode, Sara looks at suicide prevention month (September) and domestic violence.

Learn More About:

• Sit Down With Sara: Orders of Protection 
• Sit Down With Sara Episode 3: Survivors & Anxiety 
• Sit Down With Sara Episode 2
• Staff Spotlight: Patricia Motus, Occupational Therapy
• Emily’s Journey
• Emily’s Journey Part Two 
• Supporter Spotlight: Spread The Sparkle
• Victim to Victor Author Interview 
• Substance Abuse & Domestic Violence
• BFL Honors June LGBTQ+ Pride Month
• Upsolve: Debt & Domestic Violence
• Barrier Free Living Presents: Exploring the Intersection of Domestic Violence, Disability & Trauma
• Survivor Spotlight: Denise 
• Survivor Spotlight: Bethelihem
• Survivor Spotlight: Olivia 
• Specialized Trauma Reprocessing Therapy at Secret Garden
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Pet Therapy For People With Disabilities & Survivors Of Domestic Violence
• Latino Domestic Violence Resources
• Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence

Surviving Trauma: Secret Garden’s Lucy Shares A Lesson Learned From The Tragic Death Of Daisy Coleman 

Lucrecia Ayala, MSW is a bilingual Social Worker (Spanish and English) and the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator at Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden domestic violence program. Read her powerful essay about surviving trauma here.

Sunshine Behavioral Health offers a resource that discusses emerging solutions to domestic violence with topics updated regularly.

Freedom House DV Shelter Virtual Tour 

Take a virtual tour of Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter for survivors with disabilities. Get an up close and inside look at what makes our shelter absolutely unique and vital.

Link to film here .

Learn More About:

• Volunteer Spotlight 
• Meditative Treatments For DV Shelter Residents
• Challenges Encountered By Deaf Survivors Of Domestic Violence
• Safety Planning As A Crucial Part of Domestic Violence Counseling
• Advocacy: Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Family Court
• Safety First: The Importance Of An “Escape” Button