In England, 62 percent of people with learning disabilities want to work, but can’t find a job. According to Mencap, a UK-based nonprofit for people with a learning disability, only 6 percent of people with a known learning disability have paid employment. That compares to more than 80 percent of the population that does not have a declared disability being employed.
As part of the Diversity in Beer Writing Grant series, Laura Hadland wrote a story about how one UK brewery offers a rare opportunity to tackle the disability employment gap.
About Laura Hadland: Laura Hadland is a British writer and photographer who uses beer as a lens to examine community, place, and heritage. Her first book, ’50 Years of CAMRA,’ was named the Best Beer Book in the World at the 2022 Gourmand Awards.
See the work of previous grant recipients:
- Amber Gibson (2022): Pilot Project: Launching Brands and Lowering Barriers in Craft Beer
- Holly Regan (2021): The Still Point of the Turning World: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
- Ashley Rodriguez (2021): The Complexity of Mexican Lagers and Latinx People in the Brewing Industry
- Jonathan Andrade (2021): SoCal Cerveceros, America’s Largest Latino-Based Homebrew Club, Is Making Its Mark
- Jen Blair (2021): A Seat at the Table: Vegan, Vegetarian Food Offer Breweries Gateway to New Customers
- Stephanie Grant (2020): Creating Safe Spaces for Women in the Beer Industry
- Alessandra Bergamin (2020): A Cross-Border Brew Fosters the Next Generation of Latina Brewers
- Louis Livingston-Garcia (2020): Brewing Change Collaborative Tackles Diversity in the Twin Cities Beer Community
- Beth Demmon (2019): Craft, Community, and Children: The State of Parenting in the American Beer Industry
- Adriana Fraser (2019) Celebrating Women in Beer at 2019 Beer With(out) Beards Festival
- Rebecca Johnson (2018): Pride, Not Prejudice: Brewing Safe Spaces for the LGBTQ+ Community
