Danielle Stoton, 19, was refused service and asked to leave by staff at The Gatehouse pub in Doncaster on Saturday, despite showing a brain injury survivor card from Headway which explains the effects of her brain injury.
According to her mother, going to the bar to order drinks was a "huge step" in Danielle's rehabilitation after sustaining her brain injury in a hit-and-run crash in August 2014, and this incident has been a major setback.
Pub owner J D Wetherspoon has since issued an apology, stating that the incident will be fully investigated and staff will be retrained.
Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway - the brain injury association, said: "We are extremely concerned to hear of the discrimination experienced by Danielle.
"The effects of brain injury can be and often are misunderstood. As a result, incidents like this are sadly regularly experienced by brain injury survivors who are trying to regain their independence and live their everyday lives.
"However, once a person has identified themselves as a brain injury survivor there can be no excuse for any further discrimination or abuse. It is vital that people realise that just because a person has slurred speech or an unsteady gait, for example, it doesn't necessarily mean they are drunk.
"We welcome Wetherspoon's announcement that staff will receive brain injury training and we would be happy to work with them on this important issue."
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