Welcome to the PREMIERE issue of Breaking Barriers, the E-Newsletter of Barrier Free Living

 

A Story from the Field:

Paul Feuerstein, President/CEO, Barrier Free Living

In 1986, I hired a new graduate of New York University’s Deafness Rehabilitation program. In the interview, she told me that she had 13 years experience working with disabled victims of domestic violence. It was not an issue that I had associated with working with people with disabilities. She taught us the right questions to ask and we discovered that we were working with quite a few victims of childhood abuse and adult domestic violence. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” has been the approach of most of us who are service providers.

We recently commissioned a study of the general public’s perceptions of people with disabilities. While “Access,” “jobs,” and “health care” were common themes that came to mind, no one thought of domestic violence. 

I contrast that with studies of women with disabilities. I was recently approached by a national organization that advocates for wheelchair users. A survey of the women in their program showed domestic violence to be their number one concern. That did not surprise me, because Berkley Planning Associates did a study in the 1980’s of 200 women who were leaders in the disability rights movement. Domestic violence was the number one concern back then.

Barrier Free Living in New York City has spent the last 22 years working to build a comprehensive program to address the needs of victims of domestic violence with disabilities. 

We have non-residential services that provide comprehensive services to 200 adults with disabilities at a time. We serve between 500 and 600 people a year through that multi-disciplinary team. 

In 2006, we opened Freedom House, the first totally accessible shelter designed for victims with disabilities in the United States. Forty-four flexible-sized apartments are licensed to serve 95 people at a time. Last year, we served over 2,000 women and children. Sometimes the mother is disabled, sometimes the child. Sometimes, there is more than one individual with a disability within the family unit. Every apartment can accommodate individuals in wheelchairs, individuals who are blind or have low vision, individuals who are deaf. Systems are in place to connect children with disabilities with specialized services in our community, and there is more. We are in the process of developing 50 units of supportive permanent housing for families that we serve.

After a team of us recently attended a national conference on disability and domestic abuse, we decided that we wanted to share our expertise with others who have shown an interest in the issue. 

We’ve learned a lot in 22 years. We know there is still a lot more to learn. We want to share our knowledge and experience with you and are doing so with the launch of this first E-Newsletter issue of Breaking Barriers.

We plan to do share our knowledge, resources, and stories. We hope that you find this resource to be useful. 

Survivor’s Journal: Theresa McIntosh

A powerful advocate for disabled victims of domestic violence, shares her journey to success and freedom.

My name is Theresa McIntosh. I am a 57-year-old woman who was born and raised in England where I met my husband. I came to the United States in 1975 and soon after was married. For many years, my husband abused, me during the course of our relationship, he introduced me to a life of deception, cruelty, low self-esteem and uncertainty. 

I remember having to fend for myself in a new environment without any resources. Subsequently, one day a car crossing the street hit me. I survived the accident but lost my leg and became wheelchair bound. There I was physically, verbally, financially and psychological abused by my husband and daughter who used my disability against me. My husband would call me names such as “You are not a real woman, you are damage goods,”   I felt trapped, humiliated, isolated, helpless and hopeless.

In my search for a better life, in 1999, I was referred to the Barrier Free Living (BFL) Non-Residential Domestic Violence program for assistance. There the struggle continued, as finding shelter space for individuals with disabilities victims of abuse seemed almost impossible. I wanted to leave the abusive situation but could not find the appropriate accommodation.

Because of consistent advocacy, empowerment and supportive counseling by the staff of BFL, I was able to leave my abusive relationship, find shelter, and later secure an apartment.    I began to slowly regain my self worth and became advocate. 

Consequently, I have made a commitment not to leave any individual with disability behind and to steadfastly, use my trials and tribulations to advocate for individuals with disabilities. No longer should they feel as trapped and helpless as I did, I have had many opportunities to educate the community, TURNING MY PAIN INTO POWER.

Let us keep hope alive, let us stand up even after our spirit is broken.