to happen next, I was being evicted. I had a visit from a social worker and she was very cold


to me and put the cards on the table, summing it up, go into a shelter or they would put me and my wheelchair out on the street and she left. I really had to get it together, in my visit to Rusk rehab I met a lady in the hallways of the


hospital, I had spoken about my situation, she offered me a place to stay, she would rent a room to me, I arrived at her doorstep, in an ambulate, I rented a room and stayed there from 1997-2001. I started going to Barrier Free Living, a none residential program, where I was getting the help I needed.


Claire Cappetta, Theresa McIntosh and Brett Scudder at BFLNY's October's Domestic Violence Awareness Event 2015 Part Two


At Barrier Free Living the struggle continued for the first time I was able to be in a safe environment and starting to rebuild my life, I continued to get supportive counselling by the staff at barrier free and later to secure an apartment. I slowly began to regain myself worth I moved from victim, survivor, and know I am a strong advocate my community, I have been able to talk about the dynamics of domestic violence and how hard it was when trying to attempt to negotiate the systems,and leave,


in putting forth my experience and making a


difference i take better care of myself to do whatever it takes in doing something that i enjoy bringing awareness and public speaking in the disabled community disabled woman and a victim of domestic violence I was from another and after 37 years in this country I was given the opportunity to apply for my citizenship through the help of BFL on June 7, 2009, I became a naturalized citizen and I’m proud to be!


PHF Magazine October 2016


11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13