Being employed in today’s society is proving to be a tough feat to overcome. Some people consider getting a high degree of education and gaining the best of experiences as a must in order to reach their goals of advancing in the social ladder. If you’re not competent enough, the tendency is that you won’t get employed for the job that you are aiming for.
However, for former special educations teacher Tiffany Fixter, finding the best employees isn’t based on having the highest of degrees or coming from the greatest of schools. She fairly believes in an inclusive community wherein even people with mental disabilities should be considered for employment. That’s why she built Pizzability, her very own pizza joint situated in Denver, Colorado, where her staff completely consists of adults with disabilities.
Despite the business’ amazing cause, the reality is that it can’t match the level of service of the other restaurants around it in the Cherry Creek area. Of course, big restaurants have speedy services and are staffed with highly trained servers ready to give their best hospitality skills to the customers.
“Everybody on my staff has an intellectual or developmental disability,” Fixter told Denver 7 news. “We have people that are blind and deaf. They have autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy.”
“People think we’re really successful and that’s great,” Fixter said. “But, I don’t know if we’re going to make it.”
Everybody thinks that the impact that Pizzability had made to the community is quite strong. But what the business needs is to really earn so it can continue in serving its purpose. Some might perceive that one of the reasons for this would have to be the people in the community who still can’t understand that our society should be inclusive of even those who are mentally or physically challenged.
Local journalist Tori Mason proved that these things really happen via a post she made on her Facebook account where she emphasized that people should show more support of establishments such as Pizzability. Learning that some people in the community are poking fun at the staff of the pizza joint just made Tori “heartbroken and disgusted”. They see the restaurant as a place “where the retards work” and Tori definitely felt bad for the staff.
The Denver reporter called everyone’s attention and asked for help in being more tolerant of the Pizzability staff. She also made sure that they know about how “darn good” their pizza is.
In fact, their pizza is not the only part of the menu that’s worth trying. The beer that is being served is also a major knockout and these come from Brewability Lab, another business owned by Terry Fixter that also employs disabled persons.
Pizzability is unique not just because of its workers but because it is really a great pizza place to begin with! The reviews coming from customers are absolutely positive not only because the food is great but because the staff are totally accommodating and lovely as well.
“Would love to support this restaurant. I have been following this restaurant for about 6 months now and would see one in my homestate and city if Centerville Ohio. What this owner has done and is doing is fantastic” — Natalee Mossing
“We’ve been there and both the food AND the employees were GREAT!” — Stephanie Fischer Kelley
“This place is more than a restaurant. It is world at its Best! Cherry Creek I hope you raise your arms and shout YES we are a part of something so good and right!!!” — Kathy Kennedy-Tuchfeld
The reviews are totally over the roof. Recommendations are also pouring and more and more people are interested in trying out the pizza parlor with a heart. With really great pizza and amazing staff, what else could a customer ask for?
We sincerely hope that more restaurants with a cause such as Pizzability would emerge and get the support they require. It may be a bit different to rely on disabled persons, but they are part of our society as well. And giving them a chance to live a normal life and earn for themselves is something that will give more meaning to our society.
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