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walkitoutThe straw activist movement has run up against disability advocates.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/07/11/627773979/why-people-with-disabilities-want-bans-on-plastic-straws-to-be-more-flexible
The results are about what you would expect: a fair amount of what-about-ism on both sides, a whole lot of not reading articles before responding to them, etc. Both sides of this recognize that this is a high profile issue, so while the stakes _seem_ small, they are actually substantial, because this can be used to apply pressure more generally to related issues that are less high-profile.
You can obviously go watch the fun over on twitter in response to this.
But if you are actually interested in problem solving, you might find this useful information:
http://www.seattle.gov/util/forbusinesses/solidwaste/foodyardbusinesses/commercial/foodpackagingrequirements/
Specifically, under “Current exemptions...”, the banned straws are allowed for the disabled.
I have mixed feelings. I can see where the straw activists are coming from. Like that ice bucket wtfery, goofy trends that seem on the surface to be tilting at windmills can generate significant resources and attention to things that are Worthy (in this case, Ocean Pollution). I anticipated some pushback from disability activists (because I read way too much about the 19th century, and two things that seem “totally unnecessary” now but very nice to have — straws and ice — were a huge component of what visiting nurses had to offer when they made their rounds. Tells you something!). Yes, it’s a pain in the ass to have to remember the things you have to have in order to be functional (I have a really big problem with sunlight. I _used_ to live in Seattle, and even there I carried sunglasses and wore a hat most of the year. Out here, it is _insane_. If I leave the house without a hat and/or my prescription sunglasses. I go back. It’s never happened on the way to catch a flight, but I would go back. It is not optional.). But carrying around a half dozen plastic disposable straws in a purse, belt pack, back pack, the glove compartment of your car (if you have one), diaper bag, whatever the fuck is, in the larger context, pretty easy to deal with, vs., say, when there is no elevator and stairs don’t work for you. (ETA: Or, to use a really weird example, if you are at Universal Studios on the west coast, and you need to transition from one park to the other, and you have a major escalator phobia. _Major_ escalator phobia. Let’s just say that my daughter and I learned a whole lot about what is involved in moving from one level to the other if you can’t do escalators (because she can’t). There’s an elevator partway, and then you either walk along a road or take a van down that road. And back up. We wound up taking the stairs back up, which was a chore. I cheated and rode the escalator part of the way, but she would rather climb all those stairs than get on an escalator.)
Remember: I did note above that the straw issue is being used by _both_ sides as a proxy. It’s a valid proxy.
Anyway. If you are part of the Anti Straw team, do us all a favor, and make sure anything that you get passed as an ordinance, law, etc., includes an exemption for plastic, single-use straws THAT ARE FLEXIBLE for the disabled, that can be stored out of sight and available upon request. If you work in a place that has gotten rid of straws generally, ask to keep at least one box around in storage in case someone needs one. Complying with ADA doesn’t have to be hard. And being a jackass is not actually necessary to Save the Turtles. Or Whales. Or whatever.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/07/11/627773979/why-people-with-disabilities-want-bans-on-plastic-straws-to-be-more-flexible
The results are about what you would expect: a fair amount of what-about-ism on both sides, a whole lot of not reading articles before responding to them, etc. Both sides of this recognize that this is a high profile issue, so while the stakes _seem_ small, they are actually substantial, because this can be used to apply pressure more generally to related issues that are less high-profile.
You can obviously go watch the fun over on twitter in response to this.
But if you are actually interested in problem solving, you might find this useful information:
http://www.seattle.gov/util/forbusinesses/solidwaste/foodyardbusinesses/commercial/foodpackagingrequirements/
Specifically, under “Current exemptions...”, the banned straws are allowed for the disabled.
I have mixed feelings. I can see where the straw activists are coming from. Like that ice bucket wtfery, goofy trends that seem on the surface to be tilting at windmills can generate significant resources and attention to things that are Worthy (in this case, Ocean Pollution). I anticipated some pushback from disability activists (because I read way too much about the 19th century, and two things that seem “totally unnecessary” now but very nice to have — straws and ice — were a huge component of what visiting nurses had to offer when they made their rounds. Tells you something!). Yes, it’s a pain in the ass to have to remember the things you have to have in order to be functional (I have a really big problem with sunlight. I _used_ to live in Seattle, and even there I carried sunglasses and wore a hat most of the year. Out here, it is _insane_. If I leave the house without a hat and/or my prescription sunglasses. I go back. It’s never happened on the way to catch a flight, but I would go back. It is not optional.). But carrying around a half dozen plastic disposable straws in a purse, belt pack, back pack, the glove compartment of your car (if you have one), diaper bag, whatever the fuck is, in the larger context, pretty easy to deal with, vs., say, when there is no elevator and stairs don’t work for you. (ETA: Or, to use a really weird example, if you are at Universal Studios on the west coast, and you need to transition from one park to the other, and you have a major escalator phobia. _Major_ escalator phobia. Let’s just say that my daughter and I learned a whole lot about what is involved in moving from one level to the other if you can’t do escalators (because she can’t). There’s an elevator partway, and then you either walk along a road or take a van down that road. And back up. We wound up taking the stairs back up, which was a chore. I cheated and rode the escalator part of the way, but she would rather climb all those stairs than get on an escalator.)
Remember: I did note above that the straw issue is being used by _both_ sides as a proxy. It’s a valid proxy.
Anyway. If you are part of the Anti Straw team, do us all a favor, and make sure anything that you get passed as an ordinance, law, etc., includes an exemption for plastic, single-use straws THAT ARE FLEXIBLE for the disabled, that can be stored out of sight and available upon request. If you work in a place that has gotten rid of straws generally, ask to keep at least one box around in storage in case someone needs one. Complying with ADA doesn’t have to be hard. And being a jackass is not actually necessary to Save the Turtles. Or Whales. Or whatever.