I live in San Francisco’s Mission District, where great taco places, bakeries, cafes, and bars are everywhere. As a wheelchair-bound, ventilated person, my enjoyment of eating and drinking depends on many factors. When I leave the house to get a latte or a burrito, a lot of calculations run through my head: Will the store’s door be left open so I can walk in? If the door is closed, will someone open it for me? Is the counter low enough for the store attendant to see me? If it’s really noisy in the store, will they be able to hear and understand me with my mask over my nose? Depending on the height of the counter, will I be able to sign the touchscreen or the receipt?
At my favorite neighborhood place, I feel comfortable asking for and receiving help when placing an order. I ask the barista to bring my drink to my table because I can’t reach the high counter or carry the cup. Sometimes I ask for help adding sugar when I’m craving something sweet because the glass dispenser is too heavy to lift. Two things I always ask for with my drink are a lid and a plastic straw. Emphasis on the plastic. A lid keeps the drink from spilling when I’m walking over uneven sidewalks or curb cuts. I need a straw because I don’t have the hand or arm strength to lift the drink and put it in my mouth. Plastic straws work best when drinking hot beverages. Compostables tend to dissolve and break down.
Asking for help in a public place like a restaurant is not easy or fun because you never know what kind of response you’ll encounter: indifference, sympathy, or outright rejection. I don’t see these types of offers of help as special treatment or something to be inspired by as clickbait for someone to smugly post on social media to make themselves feel better. They’re simply examples of great hospitality.
Plastic is perceived as cheap, “anti-luxury,” wasteful, and harmful to the environment. All of this is true. Plastic is essential to my health and wellness. As a person with a neuromuscular disorder, plastic straws are an essential tool for staying hydrated and nourished. Now, disposable plastic straws are the latest target of environmentalists in the fight against zero waste. Union Square Hospitality Group Starbucks and other companies in the travel industry have also announced plans to phase out single-use plastics.
Starbucks’ announcement, along with the news that Vancouver and Seattle have recently banned plastic straws and that other cities, including New York and San Francisco, are considering proposals, infuriated me for a number of reasons (not even getting into the issues of recyclable plastics or greenwashing).
1. Plastic straws are considered an unnecessary item that environmentalists use as a “gateway plastic” to engage the public in a broader discussion about waste. According to Dunne Ives, executive director of the Lonely Whale Foundation, “plastic straws are a social tool and a prop, and a great conversation starter.” However, some Social Props Straws are a means of nourishment for others, as if the elderly, children and disabled people who rely on them don’t matter, as if our needs are less important than the environment. I feel erased by this attitude.
2. Plastic straws are everywhere, whether we like it or not, and once they are accessible, taking them away is difficult and harmful. Away from marginalized communities That depends. I live in a world that was not made for me, and what little precious access I have is hard-won. Banning plastic straws is not progressive, it’s regressive.
The plastic straw ban is a symptom of a larger systemic problem in the ongoing fight for rights and justice for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 28 next week on July 26, but people with disabilities still face barriers at restaurants. The ADA is viewed by many small businesses (and the National Restaurant Association) as a source of frivolous lawsuits brought by greedy lawyers and customers. Ableist attitudes that cast people with disabilities as “fakes” and “complainers” mask the very real and painful experience of not being able to eat and drink freely.
As demand for plastic alternatives grows, so too does the voice of the disability community, raising concerns that these bans will create additional hassle, obstacles and hardship. On social media, many disabled people have voiced their concerns. Share your story and 100% authentic. I have observed and experienced microaggressions of all kinds. Complete dismissal Something Here’s what people with disabilities are saying online.
I saw a tweet that asked, “What did you disabled people do before straws were invented?” I believe a doctor replied, “They inhaled fluid into their lungs and died of pneumonia.” #micdrop
— Chronically, Raven ♿️ (@ChronicallyRavn) July 12, 2018
Half the experience of disabled people’s lives is having non-disabled people offer us suggestions as if they’re innovative/creative, when we’ve spent hours of our lives explaining to everyone and their mothers why their “helpful” suggestions don’t work. #Discrimination against people with disabilities is not tolerated
— Mia Mirihi (@SeeMiaRoll) July 12, 2018
On the Internet, Access to biodegradable straws Even though Starbucks has a reason for using plastic, Bring a reusable straw Without considering the extra work that would be involved. Why should a person with a disability have to bring something to drink, yet a non-disabled person can conveniently take advantage of something that is provided for free? This is not fair, just, or kind.
This is the experience of living in a world that was not made for me. Having to explain and defend myself while providing endless labor at the demands of people who do not acknowledge the privilege of non-disabled people. There are days when I just want to repeat these words: “Believe disabled people. Period.” I refuse to apologize or feel shame for my bodily functions or how I navigate this world. Everyone consumes goods and produces waste. We are all reducing, reusing and recycling as much as we can, and we should all recognize that different needs require different solutions. I am not a monster because I use plastic straws, oxygen tubes and other plastic products that I need to live.
Imagine if the solution to segregated lunch counters and restaurants was for black people to bring their own chairs.
Now let’s apply this to straws and people with disabilities… https://t.co/NTiSY71Rl5
— Crutches & Spices ♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) July 15, 2018
Restaurants are theaters. They are also highly political and contested spaces. When I go out, waiters have asked my companion to order instead of me. I have passed through creepy, dirty side entrances just to get into restaurants. I have had front-of-house staff sympathetically call me “wheelchair” when deciding which table to seat me at. Apparently I take up too much space. I also love places where I feel welcomed and respected. They treat me with thoughtful, genuine hospitality, and I respond as a loyal customer who appreciates the little touches that make my visits enjoyable.
Seattle’s ban does have an exception for people with disabilities, who can request plastic straws for medical reasons and restaurants can provide them. This is optional for restaurants, so they can choose not to provide them. What people don’t understand about bans like this is that having to request plastic straws places an undue burden and scrutiny on people with disabilities. You shouldn’t have to prove a medical need or disclose that you’re disabled when you’re enjoying a fun night out with friends. That’s not hospitality.
So where do we go from here? How can we foster an accessible and pleasant environment while reducing waste? Until someone invents a compostable straw that functions the same as a plastic straw, I A modest proposal For facilities that have banned or are considering banning plastic straws:
For establishments that provide straws on the counter, provide both types, clearly labeled, and allow customers to choose. If you are a cafe or restaurant and want to provide straws upon request, have your servers provide a plastic and a biodegradable version. This is the same as giving every customer the choice between sparkling or still water. Customers can choose what works best for them without alienating an entire group. Review the types of plastics (e.g. wraps, containers) your establishment uses and find additional ways to reduce consumption. Expand your ideas about hospitality and accessibility. They are one and the same. Think about barriers that may be intentionally or unintentionally preventing customers from coming to your establishment. Listen to and learn from the critiques of your customers, including customers with disabilities. Don’t wait for protests or boycotts before engaging with the disability community (I know you, Starbucks).
Accessibility is a human rights issue, not an individual issue. If you are the type of person who tells a disabled person to “bring your own straw,” ask yourself: why do you fight so hard for accessibility? #Strawban But don’t we demand that alternatives be available?
— Laura Dorwart ️ (@lauramdorwart) July 8, 2018
If a café can offer four types of milk for espresso drinks and a restaurant can offer 50 types of wine or beer, a small business or large enterprise can get away with offering two types of straws. The key is to provide the same level of access to all items. You can cater to all your customers while reducing waste at the same time. Customers respond to choice and flexibility.
After all, isn’t it all about authentic, inclusive hospitality and welcoming everyone into your space?
Alice Wong is the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project. She loves coffee, pie, ice cream, and fried chicken. Sarah Robbins is a Baltimore, Maryland-based freelance illustrator and printmaker inspired by folklore and traditional printmaking.
Editor: Erin DeJesus
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