How the plastic straw ban debate exposes that disabled people are still being ignored

Over the last few weeks, the internet has been abuzz with news that major companies like Starbucks will be doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint by stopping production and manufacturing of their plastic straws by 2020.

Many other companies, both locally and internationally have been having similar conversations, which is always a good thing.

The fact is that plastic, and plastic straws cause considerable harm to our environment – most of us have all seen stories of how sea animals are getting caught and stuck in plastic. And swallow it too.

We created a harmful product that hurts the environment and now we need to eradicate it and replace it with a more environmental and sustainable products that will hopefully help, except that this drastic step has resulted in an unexpected conversation that shows that we still have a long way to go when it comes to learning how to be a less ableist society.
According to CNN, many disabled people fear that the increasing drive to remove plastic straws completely, will mean that they’ll be severely limited in terms of accessibility, their needs and requirements.  
The thing is, disabled people are also not wilfully trying to destroy the environment – for some the use of plastic straws (due to conditions where muscular impairment makes it hard for people to consider other options) means being able to get nourishment down in the easiest and least painful way possible.

Users on social media have been urging companies and other folk on Twitter to be more compassionate – and with good reason because even if some users switched to more environmentally friendly options – the materials may not be compatible with certain medications or may be a hindrance.To be fair, Starbucks has said that they'd be working with affected communities in order to help meet their needs, but it remains to be seen whether or not other companies will follow suit.

In the meantime, before we talk more about banning plastic straws, isn’t it a better idea to first focus on other larger plastic materials first – ones that don’t have as much of an impact on disabled people in terms of accommodating their needs? 

Because the truth is, that you can prioritise saving the environment, but that also includes saving and helping people. 

Let's save the world, but let's also not forget the people who live in it.

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