October is National Disability Employment Awareness month, a time set aside to celebrate the contributions that workers with disabilities are making in America’s workforce.

Ian McLaughlin, an employee at Bitty and Beau’s Coffee in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood, told Spectrum News it’s also “an opportunity to show every person who walks through the door the wonderful person that they’ve always been and that they are, as we like to say here, not broken.” 

What You Need To Know

  • October is National Disability Employment Awareness month, a time set aside to celebrate the contributions that workers with disabilities are making in America’s workforce

  • Ian McLaughlin, an employee at Bitty and Beau’s Coffee in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood, described himself as having high-functioning Asperger's syndrome, an Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Bitty and Beau's was founded in 2016 in Wilmington, N.C., by Amy and Ben Wright; the company believes that Bitty and Beau's "creates a path for people with disabilities to become more valued, accepted and included in every community"
  • McLaughlin, who works as a cashier and is training as a barista, said he knows he is going to make a difference each day as he goes in to work

The original Bitty and Beau's was founded in 2016 in Wilmington, N.C., by Amy and Ben Wright. The business was named after two of their children, Bitty and Beau, who were born with Down syndrome; their daughter Lillie was born with autism. The company believes that Bitty and Beau's Coffee, which now has 24 locations nationwide, "creates a path for people with disabilities to become more valued, accepted and included in every community."

McLaughlin, who told Spectrum News he has high-functioning Asperger's syndrome, an Autism Spectrum Disorder, has been working at the Georgetown Bitty and Beau’s since the day it opened for business in May. 

McLaughlin, who works as a cashier and is training as a barista, said he knows he is going to make a difference each day as he goes in to work. 

“While I’m fulfilling all those roles I’m also providing dignity, a means of supporting oneself and a means of contributing to society,” McLaughlin said. 

Each drink the team serves comes with a handwritten message. One example is a pumpkin spice frappé that reads “believe in yourself.” 

“If we can do it so can all of you,” McLaughlin said. “No matter what it is. Never forget that.”