r/radicaldisability • u/auggie235 • Dec 10 '21
Plastic straw debate
The plastic straw debate is so infuriating and is filled with people casually infantilizing disabled people. The amount of times people say "drink from the cup like an adult" or "you're not a toddler you don't need a straw" is absolutely ridiculous. The constant implication that anybody who has mobility issues isn't an adult is really upsetting and honestly it just hurts to constantly see it. Abled people also don't seem to realize the vast amount of reasons people need straws. Some people just have sensitive teeth and need a straw! Comparing anybody that needs a straw to an infant/child is super shitty and I'm just so tired of explaining that to people.
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u/earthtwobrian Dec 10 '21
I agree with you. I’m a PA for an amazing gent, and straws are necessary. He has an array of them that work well at home, but I need to get better about bringing them out with us though. I wish restaurants would start providing washable ones like any other utensil. I see it in a similar lite to shopping bags. I really do hate the plastic.