Brewability Taps Into Music For All

SIBEYSTORE | via PR Newswire | Brewability Taps Into Music For All | ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Brewability, a Colorado brewery and pizza where the majority of the workforce consists of persons with developmental impairments, has recently installed a vibrating dance floor in order to increase both the level of fun and the accessibility of the establishment. Brewability is now in a position to provide live music and house tunes to customers who can hear as well as those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have other disabilities thanks to a partnership with the nonprofit organization Feel the Beat. Feel the Beat is dedicated to creating sound accessible environments using vibrotactile technology for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have other disabilities. Brewability, which can be found at 3445 S. Broadway in Englewood, will be hosting a series of dance-floor-opening events beginning on July 21, with performances by Ellie D & Soul Mix, The MDH Project Band, and The Chris Dismuke Band following in the next three days.

“Live music — and music in general — is a huge part of what we do at the brewery,” says founder and owner of Brewability, Tiffany Fixter. “People want to come out, eat and drink, dance and have a good time. That should be accessible to everyone who walks or rolls through our doors.”

When Brewability tested out the mobile version of Feel the Beat’s dance floor in the spring, patrons lined up for the fun. As Fixter puts it, “everyone wants a turn.” By installing the technology, which is the same as bone-conduction headphones on a larger scale, into an existing 12-by-12 foot dance floor, all patrons can now enjoy the brewery’s spectacular line-up of live bands, as well as house music. By transmitting sound vibrations through the bones, anyone who touches the dance floor can experience all aspects of music — not just the bass.

“The coolest element of bone-conduction technology is its ability to allow a participant to experience every instrument and every kind of music, from bluegrass to hip-hop,” explains Jari Majewski Price, founder of Feel the Beat. “It’s exciting to see the participants’ faces just light up, and to witness them really ‘get it.’ Suddenly, music — something they may have never experienced before — is resonating within their bodies and minds. The impact is amazing, and, most importantly, everyone in the room gets the same access.”

The new dance floor is just the latest adaptable feature in a place that is constantly evolving to build inclusivity for staff and customers. The new dance floor is being funded by a grant through Developmental Pathways, a nonprofit agency serving individuals with developmental disabilities/delays and their families. Developmental Pathways is a 501(c)(3) organization. Brewability already provides menus in braille and staff members who are able to communicate in sign language. Additionally, the establishment features weighted silverware, color-coded beer taps and corresponding menu colors for ordering brews, and a sensory area that is furnished with a marble wall, a giant Lite Brite, and other items. Additionally, it collaborates with other inclusive businesses, such as Adore Bath Tissue, which offers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to participate in competitive job settings.

In the near future, the brewery plans to implement the following accessibility upgrades: a menu that is suitable for people with gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes), thresholds on the outdoor patio will be lowered to make wheelchair access easier, and the adult changing table in the restroom will be adjustable. The consistent care paid to all facets of the Brewability experience is meant to make guests feel as though they are welcome at all times.

“Families come into Brewability because they know we can take care of guests without making them feel different,” says Fixter. “For a lot of families, we’re the only restaurant they’ll patronize. So, sure, there’s a little bit of pressure for us, but it’s important that they feel comfortable.”

To learn more about Brewability, go to https://www.brew-ability.com/.

SOURCE Brewability