Lila is a vibrant young girl with a love for her pet cat, a passion for singing along to Taylor Swift, and an adventurous spirit that shines through during her summer trips to the beach. She enjoys fishing, playful days with her friends, and getting creative with arts and crafts. However, there’s one essential item that Lila needs to thrive: a plastic straw.
Lila has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, the most severe type of CP. As her mother, Jenna Marks, explains, “Lila is nonverbal and requires 24/7 care. She can’t walk or crawl independently, and her communication relies on a device that tracks her eye movements.” For Lila, plastic straws are not a luxury; they are a necessity. Many individuals with quadriplegia may rely on g-tubes for hydration, which can lead to complications such as infections and reflux.
So why are plastic straws so crucial? Jenna elaborates, “Lila needs to bite down to create a suction, and we’ve tried every alternative out there. Hard plastics don’t work, soft plastics are chewed up, and metal straws can break teeth.” Similarly, Mia, another child with the same condition, faces the same challenges. Her mom, Tara, shares that Mia loves enjoying her favorite whipped cream drinks, but without a plastic straw, that pleasure would vanish. Metal straws are dangerous, paper straws dissolve, and silicone options simply don’t provide the necessary flexibility.
As cities across the country, including Seattle and Malibu, move toward banning plastic straws, the implications for families with children like Lila and Mia are troubling. Starbucks made headlines in 2018 with its commitment to eliminate plastic straws, citing environmental concerns about ocean pollution and marine life safety. Advocates claim that reducing plastic straw usage is a small but significant step in combating waste.
While some suggest that those who need straws should simply bring their own, this expectation fails to recognize the additional burden it places on parents of special needs children. Jenna already carries a slew of necessities: a power wheelchair, diapers, wipes, a communication device, and all the essentials for Lila’s care. Tara echoes these sentiments, sharing the extensive list of items she must bring along, including medications and entertainment devices. Adding straws to the mix becomes yet another weight on their shoulders.
Moreover, research has shown that alternatives to plastic straws often don’t hold up under heat and can be unsuitable for individuals with specific needs. Interestingly, plastic straws were originally designed as adaptive tools for those who required assistance drinking, highlighting the irony of their current ban.
While environmental efforts are commendable, they should not come at the expense of people like Lila and Mia. The focus should be on systemic changes, targeting corporations that produce excessive single-use plastics rather than penalizing individuals who rely on these products for daily living.
It’s essential to advocate for an opt-in policy where those who need plastic straws can still access them. After all, Lila and Mia deserve the same opportunities as their peers to enjoy a drink without additional barriers. As Tara puts it, “It’s exhausting to constantly fight for our children’s basic needs to be recognized.”
In conclusion, the move to ban plastic straws may seem beneficial for the environment, but it disproportionately impacts individuals with disabilities who rely on them. Instead of promoting a blanket ban, let’s focus on more inclusive solutions that allow everyone to thrive.
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