Posted October 1, 2025
October Theme | #TakeAStand
When we talk about access to the arts, we often think about ticket prices or transportation. But for millions of people with disabilities, access means something deeper: the ability to fully participate, to be welcomed without barriers, and to experience music in ways that honor their needs and dignity.
At Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, we see accessibility as a living commitment: always evolving, always striving toward greater equity and inclusion. This October, in recognition of Disability Awareness Month, we’re shining a spotlight on the ways we’re working to make classical music more inclusive, from service dog partnerships to haptic technology and braille programs.
The Reality Gap
The disability community is one of the largest—and too often overlooked—audiences in the arts. Consider this:
Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults lives with a disability.
(CDC, 2023)
1 in 6 adults reports difficulty hearing, impacting their ability to access music in traditional ways
(CDC, 2023)
8.6 million Americans live with serious vision difficulty, including over 4 million adults under age 65
(American Foundation for the Blind, 2022)
2.5 million people experience both vision and hearing difficulties, making accessibility layered and urgent.
(American Foundation for the Blind, 2022)
And then there’s this: research shows that the arts aren’t just entertainment. They’re a powerful tool for connection, healing, and empowerment for people with disabilities.
Music therapy reduces symptom severity and improves social interaction for autistic individuals.
(Geretsegger, Elefant, Mössler, & Gold, 2014, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)
Art therapy enhances psychosocial well-being, reduces anxiety and depression, and builds social skills in people with learning disabilities.
(Schweizer, Knorth, & Spreen, 2014, Arts in Psychotherapy)
Participating in accessible arts programs improves health, resilience, and coping skills for people with chronic conditions, with benefits lasting beyond the program.
(Creech, Hallam, Varvarigou, & McQueen, 2013, Music Education Research)
In other words, accessibility in the arts isn’t optional. It’s essential—because when barriers fall, the benefits ripple outward: for individuals, families, and entire communities.
A Seat for Everyone
Accessibility is as much about ensuring everyone feels seen, supported, and safe once they’re through the door as it is about getting them there. That’s why DPO has committed to building an environment where disabled patrons, performers, and partners are accommodated with equal care and attention.
Here’s how we’re putting that into practice:
- Service Dog Partnerships: Through collaborations with Faithfully K9, Canine Partners of the Rockies, and Domino Service Dogs, service dogs in training attend DPO concerts to gain real-world experience in public settings. These partnerships support future independence for disabled individuals and normalize the presence of service animals in cultural spaces.
- Haptic Vests: For patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing, DPO offers haptic vests that translate sound into vibrations, allowing users to physically feel the music in real time. It’s a powerful way to experience the concert beyond traditional hearing.
- Braille Programs: Every DPO concert offers braille programs, no request required. It’s a small gesture with a big message: you belong here, and we’ve prepared for you.
- Wheelchair-Accessible Seating: Both DPO venues include designated wheelchair seating, ensuring that mobility doesn’t limit musical access.
These aren’t add-ons. They’re part of our core commitment to inclusion.
Take a Stand with Us
- Donate to help keep concerts open to ALL
- Invite someone with a disability to join you at a concert, and let them know about our accessible seating, haptic vests, and braille programs
- Download one of our Take a Stand badges, use #TakeAStand and tag @denverphilorch (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Bluesky) to share why accessibility is important to you
- Partner with us if your organization is working toward disability inclusion. We’d love to collaborate!
Sources:
American Foundation for the Blind. Facts and Figures on Adults with Vision Loss. AFB, 2022, https://www.afb.org/research-and-initiatives/statistics/adults
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disability Impacts All of Us. CDC, 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html
Creech, Andrea, Susan Hallam, Maria Varvarigou, and Val McQueen. “Active Music Making: A Route to Enhanced Subjective Well-Being Among Older People.” Music Education Research, vol. 15, no. 4, 2013, pp. 496–508. https://doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2013.812765
Geretsegger, Monika, Cochavit Elefant, Karin A. Mössler, and Christian Gold. “Music Therapy for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 6, 2014, CD004381. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004381.pub3
Schweizer, Cécile, Erik J. Knorth, and Marinus Spreen. “Art Therapy with People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review on Art Therapy and Intellectual Disabilities.” The Arts in Psychotherapy, vol. 41, no. 5, 2014, pp. 458–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2014.08.003