People Make Fun Of Special Needs Workers At Pizzability, Heartbroken Woman Asks People For Help
Pizzability in Denver is a pizza joint with a difference: it is completely staffed by individuals with disabilities. It was founded by Tiffany Fixter, a former special needs education teacher who saw a niche in the community for jobs and training for adults with mental and physical disabilities.
Image credits: Tori Mason
The small business, located in the Cherry Creek area, has a great concept and location but is struggling to survive in a world of massive restaurant chains with a convenient and super speedy delivery service.
“Everybody on my staff has an intellectual, developmental or mental disability,” Fixter told Denver 7 news. “We have people that are blind and deaf. They have autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy.”
Even though the restaurant, that’s all about inclusiveness, has a big impact on the local community, business is business, and Pizzability needs to fight to make ends meet. “People think we’re really successful, and that’s great,” Fixter said. “But I don’t know if we’re going to make it.”
The attitudes of some rude people certainly don’t help matters, as highlighted by local journalist Tori Mason. The CBS4 Denver reporter was “ heartbroken and disgusted” to find that people have been heard saying, “that’s where the retards work,” and hanging around outside, afraid to come in.
Image credits: Tori Mason
What a crappy attitude towards a place that is promoting an inclusive society and welcoming to everyone, giving disadvantaged people – who might otherwise be overlooked in the labor market – the chance to earn a dignified living in a great environment!
Image credits: Pizzability
Pizzability follows another of Fixter’s businesses, Brewability Lab. Brewability employs six beertenders, and since most can’t read, the day’s selections are designated a color, both on the taps and on the menu. “I wanted something where they could feel purposeful,” Fixter told craftbeer.com.
The craft beer brewery opened in October 2016, and some of its beers can be tasted on tap at Pizzability. Craft beer and great pizza? What more could you ask for!
Image credits: Pizzability
The reviews for Pizzability are flawless, 5 stars all round. “Amazing food! Huge slices with tons of flavor! The staff are incredible, so genuine and helpful, makes you feel very comfortable!!!” Is the latest example.
“You won’t find better customer service at any other restaurant out there! 10/10 would recommend to anyone who lives near or visits Denver! You can’t miss out on this gem!”
Image credits: Pizzability
So what are you waiting for, Denverites? Delicious pizza, tasty beers, friendly staff and a small business that makes a huge difference to the local community. Go get yourself a slice or 2!
Image credits: Tori Mason
Here’s what people had to say about the inclusive and open-hearted restaurant
People also went to facebook to share their recommendations:
Not saying this to troll. Honest question: if Donald Trump and a child molester and a nazi made your pizza, would you care?
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I would support only this place over any other in the area. Excellent idea of inclusion.
I wonder if business has picked up for them with all the media coverage. The world needs more businesses like this.
I hope so. In the Canadian Prairies there is a big recycling outfit that only hires people with disabilities and it's great.
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As a job coach, we need more places like this. There are two small businesses that I live near who hire individuals with disabilities. And I'll tell ya, these individuals are some of the hardest, happiest employees I have ever seen.
One of the clerks at our neighborhood supermarket is on the Autism spectrum and it's been so cool watching him blossom. I make a point to get in his check-out line because he is super capable - when you unpack your groceries you will never find the caned food on top of the bread, LOL.
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It breaks my heart to hear about the rude comments, because nobody should ever be discriminated against based on disability. I am sure all the workers pour their hearts and souls into what they do. Kudos to the owner and all the amazing people working there.
That reminds me. There is a bakery up a ways from me called "Special Kneads" It was started to give the child of the founders a place to earn a living after he aged out of the local support programs. Now, they hire all with disabilities. I feel like a Muffin.
You may feel like a muffin, but you sound like a hero.
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I have nothing but compassion for ppl with disabilities and think this place is great but I also don't blame some people who are ignorant for worrying about getting second rate pizza. Some ppl take pizza very seriously indeed, perhaps if there were good deals on certain days it would encourage the apprehensive customers to try the pizza and they will find out how good it is, also it will educate them when they come inside and meet the staff. I hope the restaurant succeeds long term.
People who take pizza that seriously need better priorities IMO.
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As long as they make a good pizza I am good. I love that they hire people with disabilities, I mean seriously just because they have disabilities that does not mean they are useless.
Agreed. People with disabilities deserve as much a burnout and/or a mental breakdown as the next guy.
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I have trouble understanding how people in the richest country in the world can be such arseholes. In rural Australia where I am we also have a cafe staffed by ppl with difficulties. No big deal, been going there for years. usa what the hell????
this is a great idea everyone wants and should be included no matter the personal struggle
I wish I lived close to Denver. I would be delighted to support this great project.
The fact that someone would say something like that makes me sick. They deserve as much as a normal life as possible, and should be loved and accepted.
I may not ever end up in Denver, but if I do, I'll make sure to visit this place! As a person who is actually on the autistic spectrum (only mildly, with aspergers, but I also have schizophrenia and dissociation) I have nothing but praise and love for the people who made Pizzability a thing, and I hope the trend of disability friendly restaurants/cafe's spreads worldwide :)
What a great story! A pox on the ignorant scumbags who make fun of these wonderful, hard-working employees. I hope this story inspires more people to have the determination, compassion, and courage to duplicate Tiffany Fixter's business model.
This is so wonderful. Mod Pizza does something along the same lines in helping out less fortunate people. Mod Pizza's business model centers around giving people a chance -- people who were in prison, people who were homeless, etc. Some of these employees have been promoted to manager positions. Bonus: their pizzas are fantastic!
People who make rude remarks should remember that anyone can suffer with a disability and thank God that they weren't.
This is good, we had something similar in my city but a restaurant run by people with early onset dementia, me and the wife went, it was amazing and all staff were amazing and a thorough joy to be served by, plenty of laughs about them forgetting everything. It gave them a sense of purpose again, one lady had been a world renowned gynecologist and the cruel disease took everything away from her at 50 yrs old, so sad.
Fuuuuck. My heart breaks at that last sentence. I can't imagine anything more terrifying than knowing you're irreversibly losing your mind.
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One of the things about people with disabilities: some of us make excellent employees due to the chip on their shoulder and the burning determination to prove the world wrong. I was a very sought after salesperson, which is a social skills job, something TERRIFYING for me... and I thrived at it. For five years. No, it's not any easier for me, but I made sure I was damn good at it.
Didn't need anyone feeling bad for me, I was outdoing all my coworkers back then.
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There's a great bar (actually more bars, also a gym) and cinema in Budapest where the concept is the same. I've never heard any similar comments there. We frequently visited the place with blind groups (as me and my colleagues provide audio-description), but I jumped in several times there with my mom or alone. Sometimes we had to wait a bit longer, but I never felt any difference between a "normal" place and "that kind of a bar". Oh, wait, I did! Waiters and employees were always smiley and kind. That was a bit weird...
Oops... I didn't mean to put that in capital letters 😂
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What a bunch of butt munchers. A special needs lady works with me and she does a better job and has her life more together than most of us " normal" people. Plenty of high I Q workers are lazy or just do t care. Be nice to people especially as downs syndrome are usually sweet and lovely peopke.
For the people who are afraid to come in or are making comments about who works their, they are probably the same type of people who's work ethic can't compare to the employees who work there, they probably have crappy jobs where they aren't appreciated and most likely have very low self esteem. I would love it if they could put up a sign " If you are afraid to come in or don't like our employees, we are good with that, we prefer not serving a******s."
Sorry for the grammar error in the first sentence sometimes my brain goes faster than my fingers.
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this is also great for the mental health of people who would normally be rejected because of their disability.employers like these make them feel human, like they can live and adapt in a normal society regardless of their disability. this world needs more places like pizzability <3
Twit about blind/tinder date from Tori Mason is absolutely genius, if I lived near that place and was dating, I would bring all my dates first dates there. Easiest way to see how shi*ty of a person someone is. Don't want those people in my life. Only thing I'd do differently is I will not flee, I will give them piece of my mind and ask them to leave. I have worked with people with downs and they were the most hard working people I seen. If you are near that pizza place please support them.
This broke my heart. The real disabled people are the ones without the *heart* to care about other human beings.
YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!!! Why should you judge people based on whether they are or aren't "disabled?!!!" I am almost completely deaf in one ear. I care about people who don't treat others like c**p.
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If there were one in Phoenix, I would be there right now! Sounds like a kind -and delicious- place to eat.
I wish this restaurant could get the financial backing to become a chain! I'd go there for sure. EVERYONE deserves the opportunity to earn a living and be treated with dignity and respect. Those who would make hurtful comments about these hard-working employees are the ones with the "disability". Open your hearts and minds! You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
Wish we had a pizza place here in Redwood City CA that's staffed like this. I don't love Pizza but I do love special needs folks, they are some of the kindest folks in the world and giving them a chance to work and prove they "can do it" would be all I would need to go have a slice or a pie and share with friends. BRAVO on this!
Id definitely grab a bite if I was in the area. We are all humans & deserve to feel like we are part of society. These people are awesome! Start a chain all over US!
I have worked with special need kids for years. People can be real a******s with their preconceived notions. I have never seen anyone work as hard and with such attention to getting things right as these kids do. I have gone back everyday because they always take everything I put up with, worth every minute. I have seen joy on their faces that I've never experienced in any "normal" persons face. So I guarantee you that any pizza these kids make will taste better than any pizza you'll ever get because they do it with pride and love. And you are only denying yourself to see the world in a brighter light and enjoy a meal unlike you own mama could make.
the disability is in the attitude off the rude people and theire sick imaginary barbie world.
Anyone can get to be disabled. I was having a normal life till I got to be legally blind. Luckily no one can realize, unless I tell them, about my visual limitations. Many people tend to think that being disabled makes you unable to be socially productive. Wrong! You will be as productive or more than anyone else because you actually know you have something hard to deal with and you can not give up on doing things the best you can. I hope we see many more businesses like this one soon. I still have a regular job without any special requirements for the company, but I guess some day my eyes will be worse than they are now and I will have a huge disadvantage if people judge my abilities through my limitations and not my potential and my will.
We need this kind of thing everywhere and know how to survive? FRANCHISE. There are people with great hearts and people who need this. I wish I could start one up myself.
I'd rather go there and know that the person who is working there is proud of what they do than to go sonewhere where they don't care.
they need to make this into a franchise so it can go all across the World!
These employees have more value and character than this lady obviously. Keep up the great work and keep changing the world with your beautiful perfect selves.
Omg, my heart is breaking for these employees. They don't have a mean bone in their bodies. They are so loving and so giving. Had I been there and someone made a nasty remark the police would be hauling me to jail because I would have knocked the living schitt out of that person. Everyone matters. God bless the owner for doing this. And to those who make remarks should best beware that we [all] reap what we sow.
Our society has social security to pay for people with disabilities that are unable to work. This place proves that the problem isn't so much with the people with disabilities, but with businesses (and their customers) not giving them enough of a chance. The employees have a sense of self-worth and self-determination, the customers pay less SS tax, pizza is being made. This place is great!
No, politicians, this is not an excuse to end disability benefits.
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I love those kin of places❤️. Those people are so proud to be working there. They make everything for you with love and a smile on their faces. Here in the Netherlands we have brownies & downies. Super fun!
However, if you search this place on line and in news articles there in NO mention of this.....everything about this place is positive, including all the reviews. Overblown hyperbole
Welcome to the internet. BP wouldn't get clicks if the article said "It's all good!". People WANT to be outraged (and I'm not different. Like an idiot I clicked on this knowing full well it would p**s me off, haha). It's sad but true. One person on Twitter with 4 followers can create a national story.
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At least there's one decent story in the avalanche of numpties taking pictures of their food.....
They have pizza AND gelato?!?! OMG, that would be my all time favorite place to eat! Wish they had one where I live.
My now former job at a pizza place was marred by flat out ableism. Pretty much every disabled person who works, or worked there (including myself) has been bullied and harassed.
Might recommend my brother to work here! He has Down's and he's a brilliant chef!
I'll be in Denver this week for a conference. I'm going to look them up and see if I can get a slice and a beer.
i hope they are being paid fair wages...a lot of places hire people with intellectual disabilities and somehow put it down as "training", and pay them like 2 bucks an hour, ie goodwill and such.
This seems like a natural fit for Denver church groups looking for a place to meet and eat.
If I ever had a reason to set foot in Colorado again, I would definitely stop here! One of our local thrift stores employs people with various disabilities (it's an entire program that helps the special needs community). It's by far the best thrift store in town - the people who work there are so amazing. There is definitely a need for businesses like these.
I’m a photographer at an art gallery in Denver with people who have developmental and intellectual disabilities and they are such welcoming and friendly people. The owner is trying to include these people in the community and give them a job. People with disabilities are so nice and friendly people. It’s awesome that she is doing this. I bet the pizza is delicious!
I worked in medical and dental offices for 40 years. Worked with a lot of mentally challenged clients. Most needed reminders to wash hands, stop itching, remove fingers from nose or ear. Some needed to be told to remove their hand from their pants. Many, with learning disabilities and shouldn't work in food service. Yes, they are loving people, they love hugs and hugging and touching. All the more reason to be kept out of the restaurant kitchens.
Let's hope that the people working at this place were vetted in this manner before starting there. I also know disgusting "regular" people who I want nowhere near my food as well.
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If a place like this existed near where I live, I would absolutely support it.
I really hope they can stay open and continue to give people with disabilities opportunities that they sometimes don’t get. We are still a long way off from acceptance and tolerance of others. It’s really saddens me and it seems we are actually going backwards since Donald Trump became president. Homophobia, racism, sexism and albeism rates have increased since Donald Trump has become president. https://poseidon01.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=160086092066071069068081092099114119006019033078069020110117072122084095093000064073037033029008062055124093096103003020006115053027061051031003104070066088025097022010042038102112067030107014117068030124127095118103087093115085001027091001011015105067&EXT=pdf
This is brilliant!! I love pizza! The beer idea is awesome too! The people who make fun of it are just ignorant losers.
I would rather get a not great pizza from this place, doubt that, but when we help the disabled we see their pride. I wish I was a bit younger and had my restaurant again, would hire the disabled anytime. Pax+
Over the years from a food manager to vp of ops, I have been blessed to hire many with disabilities, down syndrome etc. A few of my bosses were also disabled (nutz). But of the down syndrome members of my team, everyone respected them, nay loved them, and my patrons at the bar and restaurant loved them too. One day while doing a 400 btl liquor inventory, Jimmy who had downs and was 21, was eating his lunch at the bar, he loved the bar, and as I was having some problems with finding a few things he asked what I was looking for,soon as I told him he pointed them out. So I asked him for each of 200 bottles and he was right on the mark. He has made it his task to remember where every bottle, beer, liquor, wine was. After that he was there doing the liquor inventory with me every week. We lost Jimmy when he hit 30, and I can tell you it was Standing Room Only in the funeral home for his wake and same at church (300) and at least 100 cars to the gravesite. Well done Jimmy, Thank You PAX+
Great concept, unfortunate location. Cherry Creek is an "upscale" section of Denver. Home to high-end retailers and salons, there is no shortage of $300 haircuts, $500 ready-to-wear separates, and stores with valet service. Appearances are very important in Cherry Creek, which can result in more shallow a-holes than usual. What needs to happen is an outreach campaign to locate the people in that area who have a heart. Also, concentrate on ways to deliver pizzas -- after all, this is the zone where convenience costs and people are prepared to pay.
Might try there when I can, I just need to book a flight to Denver or something :-)
Looks like good pizza. And the fact that they are so accommodating to everyone is amazing! I wish we had this nearby. I always support local.
I worked in a bakery like this. They hired people with disabilities and trained them to have a specific skills. The bakery had agreements with several local businesses and when the trainees were ready, they would get jobs throughout the area. It was a blessed place full of some of the best people I've ever known both trainers and trainees.
I think the people with the real disability are the ones unable to enter the establishment. In those cases though, they weren't born ignorant
Not saying this to troll. Honest question: if Donald Trump and a child molester and a nazi made your pizza, would you care?
Load More Replies... I would support only this place over any other in the area. Excellent idea of inclusion.
I wonder if business has picked up for them with all the media coverage. The world needs more businesses like this.
I hope so. In the Canadian Prairies there is a big recycling outfit that only hires people with disabilities and it's great.
Load More Replies... As a job coach, we need more places like this. There are two small businesses that I live near who hire individuals with disabilities. And I'll tell ya, these individuals are some of the hardest, happiest employees I have ever seen.
One of the clerks at our neighborhood supermarket is on the Autism spectrum and it's been so cool watching him blossom. I make a point to get in his check-out line because he is super capable - when you unpack your groceries you will never find the caned food on top of the bread, LOL.
Load More Replies... It breaks my heart to hear about the rude comments, because nobody should ever be discriminated against based on disability. I am sure all the workers pour their hearts and souls into what they do. Kudos to the owner and all the amazing people working there.
That reminds me. There is a bakery up a ways from me called "Special Kneads" It was started to give the child of the founders a place to earn a living after he aged out of the local support programs. Now, they hire all with disabilities. I feel like a Muffin.
You may feel like a muffin, but you sound like a hero.
Load More Replies... I have nothing but compassion for ppl with disabilities and think this place is great but I also don't blame some people who are ignorant for worrying about getting second rate pizza. Some ppl take pizza very seriously indeed, perhaps if there were good deals on certain days it would encourage the apprehensive customers to try the pizza and they will find out how good it is, also it will educate them when they come inside and meet the staff. I hope the restaurant succeeds long term.
People who take pizza that seriously need better priorities IMO.
Load More Replies... As long as they make a good pizza I am good. I love that they hire people with disabilities, I mean seriously just because they have disabilities that does not mean they are useless.
Agreed. People with disabilities deserve as much a burnout and/or a mental breakdown as the next guy.
Load More Replies... I have trouble understanding how people in the richest country in the world can be such arseholes. In rural Australia where I am we also have a cafe staffed by ppl with difficulties. No big deal, been going there for years. usa what the hell????
this is a great idea everyone wants and should be included no matter the personal struggle
I wish I lived close to Denver. I would be delighted to support this great project.
The fact that someone would say something like that makes me sick. They deserve as much as a normal life as possible, and should be loved and accepted.
I may not ever end up in Denver, but if I do, I'll make sure to visit this place! As a person who is actually on the autistic spectrum (only mildly, with aspergers, but I also have schizophrenia and dissociation) I have nothing but praise and love for the people who made Pizzability a thing, and I hope the trend of disability friendly restaurants/cafe's spreads worldwide :)
What a great story! A pox on the ignorant scumbags who make fun of these wonderful, hard-working employees. I hope this story inspires more people to have the determination, compassion, and courage to duplicate Tiffany Fixter's business model.
This is so wonderful. Mod Pizza does something along the same lines in helping out less fortunate people. Mod Pizza's business model centers around giving people a chance -- people who were in prison, people who were homeless, etc. Some of these employees have been promoted to manager positions. Bonus: their pizzas are fantastic!
People who make rude remarks should remember that anyone can suffer with a disability and thank God that they weren't.
This is good, we had something similar in my city but a restaurant run by people with early onset dementia, me and the wife went, it was amazing and all staff were amazing and a thorough joy to be served by, plenty of laughs about them forgetting everything. It gave them a sense of purpose again, one lady had been a world renowned gynecologist and the cruel disease took everything away from her at 50 yrs old, so sad.
Fuuuuck. My heart breaks at that last sentence. I can't imagine anything more terrifying than knowing you're irreversibly losing your mind.
Load More Replies... One of the things about people with disabilities: some of us make excellent employees due to the chip on their shoulder and the burning determination to prove the world wrong. I was a very sought after salesperson, which is a social skills job, something TERRIFYING for me... and I thrived at it. For five years. No, it's not any easier for me, but I made sure I was damn good at it.
Didn't need anyone feeling bad for me, I was outdoing all my coworkers back then.
Load More Replies... There's a great bar (actually more bars, also a gym) and cinema in Budapest where the concept is the same. I've never heard any similar comments there. We frequently visited the place with blind groups (as me and my colleagues provide audio-description), but I jumped in several times there with my mom or alone. Sometimes we had to wait a bit longer, but I never felt any difference between a "normal" place and "that kind of a bar". Oh, wait, I did! Waiters and employees were always smiley and kind. That was a bit weird...
Oops... I didn't mean to put that in capital letters 😂
Load More Replies... What a bunch of butt munchers. A special needs lady works with me and she does a better job and has her life more together than most of us " normal" people. Plenty of high I Q workers are lazy or just do t care. Be nice to people especially as downs syndrome are usually sweet and lovely peopke.
For the people who are afraid to come in or are making comments about who works their, they are probably the same type of people who's work ethic can't compare to the employees who work there, they probably have crappy jobs where they aren't appreciated and most likely have very low self esteem. I would love it if they could put up a sign " If you are afraid to come in or don't like our employees, we are good with that, we prefer not serving a******s."
Sorry for the grammar error in the first sentence sometimes my brain goes faster than my fingers.
Load More Replies... this is also great for the mental health of people who would normally be rejected because of their disability.employers like these make them feel human, like they can live and adapt in a normal society regardless of their disability. this world needs more places like pizzability <3
Twit about blind/tinder date from Tori Mason is absolutely genius, if I lived near that place and was dating, I would bring all my dates first dates there. Easiest way to see how shi*ty of a person someone is. Don't want those people in my life. Only thing I'd do differently is I will not flee, I will give them piece of my mind and ask them to leave. I have worked with people with downs and they were the most hard working people I seen. If you are near that pizza place please support them.
This broke my heart. The real disabled people are the ones without the *heart* to care about other human beings.
YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!!! Why should you judge people based on whether they are or aren't "disabled?!!!" I am almost completely deaf in one ear. I care about people who don't treat others like c**p.
Load More Replies... If there were one in Phoenix, I would be there right now! Sounds like a kind -and delicious- place to eat.
I wish this restaurant could get the financial backing to become a chain! I'd go there for sure. EVERYONE deserves the opportunity to earn a living and be treated with dignity and respect. Those who would make hurtful comments about these hard-working employees are the ones with the "disability". Open your hearts and minds! You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
Wish we had a pizza place here in Redwood City CA that's staffed like this. I don't love Pizza but I do love special needs folks, they are some of the kindest folks in the world and giving them a chance to work and prove they "can do it" would be all I would need to go have a slice or a pie and share with friends. BRAVO on this!
Id definitely grab a bite if I was in the area. We are all humans & deserve to feel like we are part of society. These people are awesome! Start a chain all over US!
I have worked with special need kids for years. People can be real a******s with their preconceived notions. I have never seen anyone work as hard and with such attention to getting things right as these kids do. I have gone back everyday because they always take everything I put up with, worth every minute. I have seen joy on their faces that I've never experienced in any "normal" persons face. So I guarantee you that any pizza these kids make will taste better than any pizza you'll ever get because they do it with pride and love. And you are only denying yourself to see the world in a brighter light and enjoy a meal unlike you own mama could make.
the disability is in the attitude off the rude people and theire sick imaginary barbie world.
Anyone can get to be disabled. I was having a normal life till I got to be legally blind. Luckily no one can realize, unless I tell them, about my visual limitations. Many people tend to think that being disabled makes you unable to be socially productive. Wrong! You will be as productive or more than anyone else because you actually know you have something hard to deal with and you can not give up on doing things the best you can. I hope we see many more businesses like this one soon. I still have a regular job without any special requirements for the company, but I guess some day my eyes will be worse than they are now and I will have a huge disadvantage if people judge my abilities through my limitations and not my potential and my will.
We need this kind of thing everywhere and know how to survive? FRANCHISE. There are people with great hearts and people who need this. I wish I could start one up myself.
I'd rather go there and know that the person who is working there is proud of what they do than to go sonewhere where they don't care.
they need to make this into a franchise so it can go all across the World!
These employees have more value and character than this lady obviously. Keep up the great work and keep changing the world with your beautiful perfect selves.
Omg, my heart is breaking for these employees. They don't have a mean bone in their bodies. They are so loving and so giving. Had I been there and someone made a nasty remark the police would be hauling me to jail because I would have knocked the living schitt out of that person. Everyone matters. God bless the owner for doing this. And to those who make remarks should best beware that we [all] reap what we sow.
Our society has social security to pay for people with disabilities that are unable to work. This place proves that the problem isn't so much with the people with disabilities, but with businesses (and their customers) not giving them enough of a chance. The employees have a sense of self-worth and self-determination, the customers pay less SS tax, pizza is being made. This place is great!
No, politicians, this is not an excuse to end disability benefits.
Load More Replies... I love those kin of places❤️. Those people are so proud to be working there. They make everything for you with love and a smile on their faces. Here in the Netherlands we have brownies & downies. Super fun!
However, if you search this place on line and in news articles there in NO mention of this.....everything about this place is positive, including all the reviews. Overblown hyperbole
Welcome to the internet. BP wouldn't get clicks if the article said "It's all good!". People WANT to be outraged (and I'm not different. Like an idiot I clicked on this knowing full well it would p**s me off, haha). It's sad but true. One person on Twitter with 4 followers can create a national story.
Load More Replies... At least there's one decent story in the avalanche of numpties taking pictures of their food.....
They have pizza AND gelato?!?! OMG, that would be my all time favorite place to eat! Wish they had one where I live.
My now former job at a pizza place was marred by flat out ableism. Pretty much every disabled person who works, or worked there (including myself) has been bullied and harassed.
Might recommend my brother to work here! He has Down's and he's a brilliant chef!
I'll be in Denver this week for a conference. I'm going to look them up and see if I can get a slice and a beer.
i hope they are being paid fair wages...a lot of places hire people with intellectual disabilities and somehow put it down as "training", and pay them like 2 bucks an hour, ie goodwill and such.
This seems like a natural fit for Denver church groups looking for a place to meet and eat.
If I ever had a reason to set foot in Colorado again, I would definitely stop here! One of our local thrift stores employs people with various disabilities (it's an entire program that helps the special needs community). It's by far the best thrift store in town - the people who work there are so amazing. There is definitely a need for businesses like these.
I’m a photographer at an art gallery in Denver with people who have developmental and intellectual disabilities and they are such welcoming and friendly people. The owner is trying to include these people in the community and give them a job. People with disabilities are so nice and friendly people. It’s awesome that she is doing this. I bet the pizza is delicious!
I worked in medical and dental offices for 40 years. Worked with a lot of mentally challenged clients. Most needed reminders to wash hands, stop itching, remove fingers from nose or ear. Some needed to be told to remove their hand from their pants. Many, with learning disabilities and shouldn't work in food service. Yes, they are loving people, they love hugs and hugging and touching. All the more reason to be kept out of the restaurant kitchens.
Let's hope that the people working at this place were vetted in this manner before starting there. I also know disgusting "regular" people who I want nowhere near my food as well.
Load More Replies... If a place like this existed near where I live, I would absolutely support it.
I really hope they can stay open and continue to give people with disabilities opportunities that they sometimes don’t get. We are still a long way off from acceptance and tolerance of others. It’s really saddens me and it seems we are actually going backwards since Donald Trump became president. Homophobia, racism, sexism and albeism rates have increased since Donald Trump has become president. https://poseidon01.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=160086092066071069068081092099114119006019033078069020110117072122084095093000064073037033029008062055124093096103003020006115053027061051031003104070066088025097022010042038102112067030107014117068030124127095118103087093115085001027091001011015105067&EXT=pdf
This is brilliant!! I love pizza! The beer idea is awesome too! The people who make fun of it are just ignorant losers.
I would rather get a not great pizza from this place, doubt that, but when we help the disabled we see their pride. I wish I was a bit younger and had my restaurant again, would hire the disabled anytime. Pax+
Over the years from a food manager to vp of ops, I have been blessed to hire many with disabilities, down syndrome etc. A few of my bosses were also disabled (nutz). But of the down syndrome members of my team, everyone respected them, nay loved them, and my patrons at the bar and restaurant loved them too. One day while doing a 400 btl liquor inventory, Jimmy who had downs and was 21, was eating his lunch at the bar, he loved the bar, and as I was having some problems with finding a few things he asked what I was looking for,soon as I told him he pointed them out. So I asked him for each of 200 bottles and he was right on the mark. He has made it his task to remember where every bottle, beer, liquor, wine was. After that he was there doing the liquor inventory with me every week. We lost Jimmy when he hit 30, and I can tell you it was Standing Room Only in the funeral home for his wake and same at church (300) and at least 100 cars to the gravesite. Well done Jimmy, Thank You PAX+
Great concept, unfortunate location. Cherry Creek is an "upscale" section of Denver. Home to high-end retailers and salons, there is no shortage of $300 haircuts, $500 ready-to-wear separates, and stores with valet service. Appearances are very important in Cherry Creek, which can result in more shallow a-holes than usual. What needs to happen is an outreach campaign to locate the people in that area who have a heart. Also, concentrate on ways to deliver pizzas -- after all, this is the zone where convenience costs and people are prepared to pay.
Might try there when I can, I just need to book a flight to Denver or something :-)
Looks like good pizza. And the fact that they are so accommodating to everyone is amazing! I wish we had this nearby. I always support local.
I worked in a bakery like this. They hired people with disabilities and trained them to have a specific skills. The bakery had agreements with several local businesses and when the trainees were ready, they would get jobs throughout the area. It was a blessed place full of some of the best people I've ever known both trainers and trainees.
I think the people with the real disability are the ones unable to enter the establishment. In those cases though, they weren't born ignorant
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