We discuss stigmas and misconceptions around adults with disabilities and why we must respect their life choices. Listen in as Ana Santos, residential manager at Boundless, and Jen Adkins, a 48-year-old woman who is a self-advocate and her own guardian, discuss the challenges they face while out in the community ordering alcoholic beverages. Beth Boswell, community engagement & partnerships coordinator at Rhinegeist, shares why they wanted to join forces with Boundless for their Beer for Humans campaign to help educate others that adults with disabilities can enjoy adult beverages and drink responsibly.
We discuss stigmas and misconceptions around adults with disabilities and why we must respect their life choices. Listen in as Ana Santos, residential manager at Boundless, and Jen Adkins, a 48-year-old woman who is a self-advocate and her own guardian, discuss the challenges they face while out in the community ordering alcoholic beverages. Beth Boswell, community engagement & partnerships coordinator at Rhinegeist, shares why they wanted to join forces with Boundless for their Beer for Humans campaign to help educate others that adults with disabilities can enjoy adult beverages and drink responsibly.
Well, hello everyone. And as the saying goes, Hey, it's happy hour somewhere. And that sound of an ice cold beer popping open brings people together at kitchen tables, backyards, restaurants and bars all over the world. Now, some of you may be wondering at this point, did I click on the boundless podcast? Yes, yes, you did. Today's episode is all about how adults with disabilities make decisions on what they eat, what they drink, how they socialize who they date, and respecting those decisions and respecting their decision making process. Our guest today, Ana Santos is the residential manager for supported living homes here at boundless Jen Atkins is here to Jen lives in one of those supported living homes. And she's been kind enough to join and share some details about her personal life. Beth Boswell is also here. How about this from Cincinnati's own Rhinegeist brewery welcome to all of
Unknown:you. Hello. Hello.
Beth Boswell:Thanks so much for having us.
Scott Light:Beth, I want to start with you. Because some boundless adults are being featured in your beer for humans campaign. This is just so exciting. Alright, so let's start there. How did this partnership come about with boundless? And then let me layer on to that tell us more about the beer for humans campaign.
Beth Boswell:Thanks so much for having me. So beer for humans is both a beer brand and the face of our community program here at Rhinegeist. We have always been a community focused brand. And even before this year, we were giving to approximately 300 nonprofits per year, we were engaging in a number of different ways. But one thing that beer for humans has allowed us to do is better communicate that we can be a resource. So it's really helped us put out the word that come to us ask for what you need, let's figure out something together. Earlier this year, I got the chance to connect with Dominique from the boundless team. And I believe that it's because Dominique stumbled across spear for human somewhere. And she started by sharing with me the mission of boundless to celebrate the boundless potential of all people and encourage individuals to become active participants in the communities where they live, work and play. So we started talking about how beer for humans might be able to be a resource for that. So beer for humans really has this kind of unlimited potential for creativity. We don't have one direct way how beer for humans needs to be used, we can kind of use that brand to brainstorm a little bit. Dominique also shared with me that oftentimes people assume that individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities are not able to drink, which is something that I hadn't slowed down to think about, necessarily. But we got to talking about how untrue that assumption is, under the guidelines as anyone else, for example, a safe amount over the age of 21 without drinking and driving. So the question was, how can Rhinegeist provide visibility around that, and we started thinking about the fact that beer for humans, which is one of our favorite beers, also was going to be having a merch line come out. So that merch line includes a t shirt, a sweatshirt, a water bottle, and a dog toy. And for any of our merch lines, we release a fun creative photoshoot. And traditionally, that has just been pulling from Rhinegeist employees, we thought about 300 employees, so we pull those different faces for whatever we need. But this presented the opportunity, why not have boundless residents be the face of the beer for humans merch line. So these photos would be presented on our website, they'd also be presented on social media where we're receiving about 10,000 impressions per post, which presented a really great opportunity for us to partner with boundless and talk about adults with developmental disabilities and their ability, desire as anyone else to drink. We know that we'll have questions around this opportunity that some people may, you know, comment on posts, and this gives us a really great opportunity. It's educational, but it's fun and it's playful. And we get to have a drink together.
Scott Light:All of this is just awesome. So Ana, Jen, I just want to get your reaction to just hearing a big, you know, fun, awesome corporate partner out there in Cincinnati, just embracing you and embracing boundless.
Ana Santos:It literally gives me goosebumps. It's huge, because I think our folks are looked at as almost a childlike mentality. And I think a lot of people do forget, they are adults, and they are allowed to have a cocktail of beer. They're allowed to smoke cigarettes, I mean, may not be the healthiest thing but like at the same point, like they literally have the same rights as you and I. And it's really disheartening when we like go out to dinner. or, or we go out to lunch with them and they want to have a beverage and the waitress or waiter is looking at us for permission like, no, they're allowed to. So I think this is huge because I think it's going to really just kind of advocate and educate everybody.
Scott Light:Jen, what do you think?
Unknown:Cynthia? And I like to drink to?
Scott Light:Jen, would you tell us about your life? You're 48 You have a boyfriend?
Unknown:Yes. Boyfriend.
Scott Light:I know you love NASCAR. I do. So tell us about your life. Well,
Unknown:my boyfriend has them. And when he's at work right now, he won't be up to 630. I call him on the phone and talk to him. And I didn't laugh NASCAR, and I've taken my 50 Both Taiwan T and NASCAR
Scott Light:life. Oh, you're gonna go to a race? Yes, I am for your 50th birthday. Yes, I am. That's really cool. This campaign about just beer for humans is specific, but also ambiguous, right? Because it's so inviting.
Unknown:Yes, yes. Because I think like, we just lose that kind of our role as a DSP, or as even someone that works as a caregiver for the developmentally disabled, we're not there to just like set limits and rules. And we're actually there to empower and kind of coach them through life, to live life to in their perspective, but also like, encompassing it into what the real world is. So I think it's so important that like, we encourage our folks that we take care of that we're not just here to like, Did you brush your teeth, or, you know, you can't do this, and you can't do that. Like, we need to encourage them to try things and see if they like, and not set more limitations and create more stigmas.
Scott Light:Jen, how do you feel if you're in a social situation like Ana was talking about, and whether it's a waiter or waitress, and again, they have good intentions. But if someone tries to make a decision for you, that you can very easily make does that make you feel
Unknown:that makes me upset and hurt inside?
Scott Light:What do you say to that person?
Unknown:I said no, because I'm my own god and I can take in that wants to do
Scott Light:best the partnership with boundless is this is this pretty unique,
Beth Boswell:I would say that this is honestly the first time we've ever done this. And not to say that we that we won't do it again. But one thing that I like to admit is that we're walking into almost everything learning as well. And so we've definitely never done a photo shoot like this. I do believe we've worked with organizations that support adults with developmental disabilities. But we are really excited that boundless has kind of brought us into this project and been a really incredible partner along the way for us to do some learning on it.
Scott Light:So let's broaden, broaden out here just a little bit, because there are some bigger issues to tackle. There is an assumption that you alluded to just a minute ago that adults with disabilities can't do what other adults do. And then sometimes that does lead to situations where an adult with IDD for example, is treated like like a child or like a kid. How can people listening to this podcast be more sensitive to the rights and choices for those adults?
Unknown:No, I think that's a that's a great question. I think the biggest thing, regardless of what scenario that they may be put in, or interaction is to just like remember that the people we take care of, they want to have connection, and they want to have experiences it it's kind of one of those things like we shouldn't come in with a mindset of we are staff and, you know, it's regimen thing we need to come in as like we are there for a companionship and if you look at it that way, I think that starts to take away these walls that you can sometimes create in the field of like, Nope, I come in from this time to this time we need to do X y&z Because that's, you know, part of the job description. But I think if we look at it, so regimen, we lose that companionship and we forget that like the folks that we take care of, they just want to have experiences in connection like you and I like even those like simple tasks of like going to the grocery store, you know, yes, where they're more guiding her on like things like, okay, you know, helping her with her budget, but at the end of the day, if she wanted to spend $17 on a steak, versus you know, something, guess what, that's her. I mean, I'm pretty sure that steaks can be delicious. But like also, when we're even just going into the checkout moment, you know, she should be empowered to the clerk, her debit card, and you know that process and sometimes what I see a lot of is because it's almost easier or there's like the social awkwardness, the cashier is looking more at the staff than the actual person. So
Scott Light:what are some of those social challenges out there for you, Jen,
Unknown:I contact me and looked at me in the eye. You'd
Scott Light:like eye contact? Yes. Okay. Yes. Why is that important to you? That's important for so many reasons. But why is it important to you because
Unknown:then that luck in the straight up mentally taxing Oh, look it up in the space Don't get me when I'm talking to men don't look nowhere else nor someone else is thinking my eyes
Scott Light:and honor. Can you talk about some of those? Maybe some of those other issues or challenges?
Unknown:Yeah, I think like for example, I mean, we'll we'll kind of, you know, Jen likes to go out. So like, if we took Jen out to, we'll say, a restaurant that has beverages or whatever, we all have a menu, we're all sitting there. And we're treating it as a companionship. So we're, you know, gossiping, and having fun and you know, banter. But then when a waitress or waiter comes, we, I would give my order, you know, you would give your order. And then when it comes to Jen, there is no connection, it's they automatically will look at other people around her to make that decision. And so she, you know, she'll look at us, and we're like, no, no, go ahead, like, go ahead and tell them, and she does a wonderful job, you know, she will tell you what she wants on her plate or not. And then there's this huge awkwardness when she's like, Can I have a glass of wine? Or can I have a shot or a margarita? And they like, look at you like it? And we're like, yeah, she can't, you know, so it just, I get it. Because I think if I wasn't in this field, I think I maybe would have some of the same reaction to things. But I think I'm just very excited for a completely different outside organization. You know, that's going to do the beer for humans campaign, that we are going to open it up and it's not was not just gonna be treated in the community of the IDD world. We're gonna try and just broaden it out for everybody. So
Scott Light:well, you just teed up my next question, I think you've been looking at my notes over there. So let's come back to this campaign. And Beth, because this absolutely deserves a deeper dive here. And Beth I think even mentioned it over the last decade. Rhinegeist has been a steadfast community partner by donating to more than 300 organizations a year in all kinds of ways. And beer for humans is both a beer brand. And as of February of this year, the way I understand it, the new phase of of your entire philanthropic program, Beth, where's it going from here? What is the future you think look like for beer for humans, how's it going to continue to evolve and, and get bigger get more inclusive,
Beth Boswell:I think we by opening this door, we've done a ton of learning this year, I had not heard of iron, boundless until Dominique reached out. And so beer for humans created this door for other people to walk in, we can only be so educated, our staff can only be so educated. But we have created a resource. I mean, I will say there is a there's a donation application. On our website, there is open applications for beer for humans pint night. And so it is allowed other people to come to us and say, Hey, we have this idea for a creative project, or what I like even more than that is we don't have an idea for a creative project. But we want to talk to you about what we can do. And so I think beer for humans, I have no idea how it will grow. I am so excited to see the ways that it will grow, as we get to make more connections and, you know, sit in a room with people and hear about their community and the ways that they're working to change those communities that we serve.
Scott Light:And Ana and Jen, what is it like hearing from from Beth and again from Rhinegeist, where they're basically saying to you guys, hey, thanks for helping us to open a door. That's powerful.
Unknown:I'm super excited. And I like the fact that it does have such an open concept like you guys, don't you guys are open, you know, and that and I think that's again, the whole mindset, you're not going in with a closed minded you're you're opening up your eyes and your ears and your experiences because again, it's all about connection. So if we can just connect with each other, I think that helps break down so many stigmas. One of the stigmas, I think that is just so kind of silly when you break it down, is that all of our folks only want to watch cartoons or, you know, Paw Patrol or I mean, or like they don't want to go to the movies and watch scary movies and or they just want to listen to Kidz Bop like there's so again like I just honing in on the fact that they are adults and yes, they want to date and they want to find love and there's just so many different diverse things about them besides their disability and so I think just kind of toning in and understanding that they don't just have autism or they don't just have CP like they again are humans.
Scott Light:Jen, you're you're gonna be you and boundless. You're going to be part of history here. Yes, we are. Are you excited? Yes. That's really really cool. Yes, it is. And Beth when you hear again from from anon from Jen and from others that hey, Ron, guys, thanks for helping to break stigmas. Thanks for helping you break stereotypes. for adults with challenges for adults with with IDD, it's got to make you and your team feel great, too.
Beth Boswell:It feels it feels really incredible. In preparation for this interview, I was looking through some of our like driving principles. And when we created our charitable program a few years ago, what was what was really motivating us. And I found the statement that bears for everyone, research, open stores, education is priceless. Positive culture is powerful. And action makes change. And obviously, that wasn't written to be applicable in this instance. But I think it was really fitting in the sense that like, as I'm thinking about this project, I'm just kind of like, we're doing it and I love building community in this way.
Scott Light:That Would you repeat that seriously, I want to just burnish that in my brain. And I think our listeners would appreciate just hearing hearing that again, absolutely.
Beth Boswell:beers for everyone. Research opens doors, education is priceless. Positive culture is powerful. And action makes change.
Scott Light:I think we've all got, you know, the little tingles on the on the back of our back of our respective necks here. Okay, so let's go around the horn here, because, well, we've got a six pack of beer for humans right here in our boundless studio. So Beth, tell us a little bit about about this beer. It is it says on the can and easy hop ale. So tell us a little bit about the beer itself.
Beth Boswell:So beer for humans was created to meet a lot of different needs all of those different beer consumers. And so we kind of found the midpoint between kind of your easy drinking lager and your IPA two of our most popular styles. We are right there in the middle. So it's a little bit hoppy. It's really, really easy to drink pretty low ABV absolutely delicious beverage that you've got there in front of you.
Unknown:I'm very excited to see Jen's reaction, because she hasn't actually found your beer that she actually likes. Oh, so I'm very excited to see what she thinks about it.
Scott Light:So Jen, the next time you're out with Aaron, or on you know how with friends, you can order a Rhinegeist. And then you can say the table. Hey, I want to tell you guys about this really cool company. And I want to tell you guys about this beer. Yeah, I like it. And Beth on your end any other I think we covered it. But if there's anything else you'd like to mention about any events or anything like that, for beer for humans,
Beth Boswell:we have our beer for humans pint night program in the tap room. Now, this isn't Cincinnati but every Wednesday night we invite in a new nonprofit to talk about the work that they're doing in the community. And then we've got a little friendly competition where at the end of the month, the largest donation goes to the nonprofit that has received the most support over the month. We would love for anyone to come out join us in the taproom in Cincinnati Wednesday nights from five to 8pm and we're really excited for boundless residents to be a part of that consumer base and come have a beer with us
Scott Light:on a Jen What do you think about a road trip to Cincinnati?
Unknown:I'm always down me to
Scott Light:this fantastic this is this has been a great episode. Thank you all for joining today and we always say to our listeners you can be part of episodes to come email us your questions or comments at podcast at I am boundless dot o RG and again don't forget to give us a review. That's yet another way we want to hear from you. This is the wellbeing podcast brought to you by boundless