eco-ableism

Ableism is discrimination against people with disabilities. Eco-ableism is such discrimination driven by a zeal to protect the environment.  Unfortunately some of the measures taken to achieve this righteous cause can create difficulties for the disabled. For example, the banning of single-use plastics was considered an excellent step towards cleaning up our oceans and protecting sea creatures but for disabled people, particularly those with difficulty swallowing, the plastic straw was a simple device essential to their health and wellbeing.  There were some precautions taken in the legislation. Restaurants and shops were supposed to have plastic straws available on request but this put the onus on the disabled person to announce their disability and make the request. They could no longer rely on straws being readily available.  As plastics are increasingly regarded as a threat to the environment, so the disabled cannot help but feel a level of guilt in requiring to be made exceptions to the eco-ableist bans imposed.