Thread by @UntoNuggan

I don't want to yell at people when they offer alternatives to plastic straws, because i know the impulse is good.

but I need people to know that "what about ____ straws?" has joined "have you tried yoga?" in terms of emotional labor and irritation.

#strawban

It feels like maybe people think disabled people did not research or discuss alternatives to plastic straws before engaging in a protracted, exhausting campaign for "opt in for plastic straws" instead of a straw ban.

(We have a chart.)

See? We have a chart.

https://twitter.com/PhillipCWDE/status/1014397945280651264?s=19

I promise you, disabled people have thought about the potential ramifications of a straw ban and have alternatives.

We could all focus our advocacy on corporate waste instead of basing it on a 9 year old's science project.

Just saying.

https://twitter.com/Lollardfish/status/1002157560080814080?s=19

Dear environmentalists,

Here's a list of things we could build coalitions around if you stopped focusing on the tiny percentage of plastics consumed so some disabled people can hydrate.

I'm ready when you are.

#strawban

https://twitter.com/UntoNuggan/status/1000499611042279425?s=19

This thread is a MOOD for when (not all) able people talk about straw bans

https://twitter.com/disabilisaur/status/1014154769240330241?s=19

If you're suggesting silicone or biodegradable straws (the more expensive end of reusable straws)

Please check out #CripTax and see the thread below.

We ALREADY pay more for accessibility, frequently on limited income.

https://twitter.com/GilmerHealthLaw/status/1012109679734894592?s=19

It's entirely possible that disabled people *could* switch to an eco friendly straw if we had, say

-financial assistance/grants
-single payer healthcare
-universal design
-insurance coverage for durable medical equipment
-less employment discrimination
-universal basic income

Would really love it if people advocating straw bans could just believe disabled people are the experts in our own lives

And believe us when we say "in the current system, plastic straws are the most universally accessible straw"

Remember : nothing about us without us

Because again for the people in the back : corporate waste is WAY bigger than waste from plastic straws

https://twitter.com/mssinenomine/status/1013939526492815361?s=19

If you understand that clean drinking water is a universal human right

Please understand that some people need plastic straws to ACCESS clean drinking water

And yes, I know about the Pacific Garbage Patch and am appalled. Again : corporate waste > plastic straws.

More on the backlash against plastic straws because it is exhausting af

I know we can concentrate on more than one thing at once but maybe that thing could be corporate waste

https://twitter.com/mssinenomine/status/1013944436135325696?s=19

Again, I get the impulse of wanting to help when disabled people say "Actually many of us need plastic straws to access water."

A really great way of helping is to listen and BELIEVE US. Believe that we are the experts in our own lives.

"But what if this particular disabled person has not considered eco friendly alternatives to plastic straws that might work for their particular set of access needs?"

You could ask if they want advice. Really, that is a thing.

https://twitter.com/UntoNuggan/status/990578789276114944?s=19

Personally my answer to "do you want help finding alternatives to plastic straws" is a hard no

Because I think I currently know more about straws than I had ever thought possible, or wished to know

But I don't speak for every disabled person so maybe someone wants help?

I get that no one just intrinsically knows all these straw accessibility facts

Part of the problem is that the bigger media services have been running hard with this whole 'plastic straws are bad' thing and their coverage of disability is...often very not great

But if you want to know what disabled people think about, say, straw bans

You could follow more disabled people?

Because I guarantee a lot of us have been yelling about straw bans for months. Again, we have a chart.

If you're an editor who wants to cover straw bans, may I suggest hiring a writer from the @DisabledWriters database?

(We also have a database for that, in addition to the chart. Just saying.)

PS also this

https://twitter.com/UntoNuggan/status/1014643887644831750?s=19