The Big Straw Roundup: Disabled People on the Straw Ban

Straws have been a heated topic of discussion over the past several months, with major companies like Starbucks and Disney announcing their intentions to cease using single-use plastic straws in the near future, but many disabled people are speaking out about the importance of plastic straws to their independence and daily lives.

Below is a collection of articles written by disabled writers on the importance of considering the disability community when it comes to straw bans. Check them out to hear what disabled people have to say on this issue that is deeply important and personal for many of us.

Karin Hitselberger writes on the importance of straws, accessibility, and remembering the disability community when enacting policies in the Washington Post and Rooted In Rights.

s.e. smith takes on the issue of ableism, and the necessity of plastic straws on Bitch Media and Vox.

Melissa Blake shares why she was disappointed in Starbucks decision to do away with plastic straws on CNN.

Robyn Powell writes on HuffPost,  I Need Plastic Straws To Drink. I Also Want To Save The Environment.  

Over in the UK, Penny Pepper gets candid about having no choice when it comes to needing things like plastic straws and baby wipes in the Guardian

From Paris, Imani Barbarin talks about why banning straws will isolate disabled people on Crutches and Spice.

Alice Wong shares her excellent perspective on the issue on Eater.

Additionally, the following pieces to a great job of highlighting disability perspective and elevating the voices of disabled activists:

This episode of Al Jazeera’s The Stream talks about the impact of the straw ban on the disability community through conversations with activists and environmental NGOs.

CBC radio show, “As it Happens,” interviewed Lawrence Carter-Long, the Communications Director for The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund  (DREDF), about how the straw ban would impact the disability community.

Articles for Time and Rewire interviewed a number of disability rights advocates and shared why the community is concerned about straw bans.

For a look at the cost of giving up plastic straws for a disabled person check out this satirical, but honest Go Fund Me created by Kim Sauder

To continue listening to disabled voices, and get even more perspectives on why banning plastic straws is problematic for the disability community check out #SuckItAbleism on Twitter.

Is there a source you written by or highlighting the voices of disabled people you would like to see added to this list? Let me know in the comments!

Image description: the image is a cartoon drawing of a plastic cup with a red striped straw on a yellow background decorated with what looks like fruit wedges. The image reads: The Big Straw Roundup: Disabled People on the Straw Ban. In the upper left corner a light watermark reads: www.claimingcrip.com