If someone enters your taproom in a wheelchair or with an assistance dog, it’s generally understood that the person has some kind of disability, and that some accommodation or assistance is required or preferred. Unfortunately, not all disabilities are visible; some are invisible.

In this seminar, Linda van Loon, who has firsthand experience with having an invisible disability—autism and fibromyalgia—shares (sometimes funny) stories of herself working in a brewery, but also stories from colleagues in the beer industry with disabilities such as Crohn’s disease, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and chronic pain. Expect to gain insight into a painful world of misunderstandings and assumptions, but also tools for employers and employees on how to start the conversation. Taproom owners walk away with advice on how they can accommodate for what sometimes is hidden behind a cloak of invisibility.

Learning Objectives

• Gain a better understanding of what types of invisible disabilities are out there (mental and physical)
• Become aware of your own biases regarding disabilities
• Learn how you can accommodate for the invisible and become more inclusive as a person
• Discuss how to make your taproom more accessible and inclusive toward people with an invisible disability
• Explore ways to open up the conversation around accommodation, facilities, and invisible disabilities with both employers and employees

About the Speaker

Linda van Loon, Fermentation Specialist

Eik & Tid

Linda van Loon (she/her) is a fermentation specialist at Eik & Tid brewery in Oslo, Norway. She is probably the only Dutch woman who has ever moved to Norway to specialize in kveik and traditional Norwegian brewing. Linda has a passion for fermentation and for making the world a more inclusive place for neurodivergent people such as herself. She is the chapter leader and co-founder of the Pink Boots Society’s chapter in the Benelux.