There has been much controversy lately about whether or not straws should be banned altogether. We as a society throw away so many plastic straws on a given day. Half a billion to be exact. This is why there has been much talk lately about getting rid of straws altogether. However, we need to think about those who depend on straws to get their daily nutrients.

This semester, I am in a disability studies class in which we discuss various topics about disability. One topic we have recently discussed is the idea that some people with disabilities cannot pick up their own drinks and sip directly from them. Straws are sometimes the only way that a person with a disability can drink virtually anything. They may have some type of disability that does not allow them to grasp and control a cup without a straw. Or they may be in a hospital bed where a straw is the only way that fluids can be delivered. Sipping from a water glass is something that many of us able-bodied individuals take for granted. For some people, this is a near-impossible task.

This is why we should not fully do away with straws as a whole. I completely agree that straws are causing a large problem for our beloved earth. It is increasing plastic waste that ends up in our oceans and other land areas. However, we need to take into account that some people physically need to use straws. The common rebuttal to this idea is to switch to stainless steel straws. Restaurants can just offer these to people who want them and reuse them. Hospitals can do this, too! Right?

Well... not quite.

See, the problem is that many people with disabilities also need the bending function of the straw. It was revolutionary for the disability world when straws were made to be bent into different positions, making it easy to bend in just the right way to help someone who may need some extra assistance taking a sip from a cup. Stainless steel straws cannot do this.

Essentially, stainless steel straws are a good idea until you think about the disability community. As able-bodied people, we tend to take things like not needing a straw for granted. But getting rid of straws altogether would be doing a great disservice to others in our communities who find straws a necessity in their daily lives.

The solution that I can offer you is to get biodegradable straws. These straws could be made so that they can be degraded into the earth when thrown away. This will decrease the plastic waste we add to the planet while also keeping straws for those who need them. Just don't forget the bendy part!

The next time you hear someone talk about how straws need to be banished, think of the other side of the spectrum. Think of how you are given the privilege to not have to worry about having to use a straw at every meal. How you can even fathom the possibility of getting rid of straws. Don't forget those members of the disability community. They deserve a voice (and the ability to drink out of a cup) too!