6 Frank Advocates for All A local ordinance has been proposed to ban plastic straws in restaurants and at public events. Frank is concerned for members of his MS support group and others with disabilities that affect their dexterity. He knows that people with tremor or paralysis often rely on straws to be able to drink without assistance. Members of the support group discuss organizing a protest at the next city council meeting. Frank suggests the immediate step of requesting a meeting with the councilor who proposed the ban. With the support of his group, he does so and a meeting is arranged. Their conversation goes as follows. Frank: Thank you for meeting with me, Councilwoman Chambers. On behalf of our multiple sclerosis support group, I wanted to talk about a concern we have about your proposal to ban plastic straws. Councilwoman: The proposal has received broad support from environmental groups, and from the public. Frank: I’m sure it has, and I admire your commitment to the environment. While I understand the need to reduce plastic waste, it’s also important to provide equal access for people with disabilities, isn’t it? Councilwoman: Certainly. But I fail to see how eliminating straws limits access for people with disabilities. If a person requires a straw, they can purchase and carry a reusable straw. Frank: Councilwoman, have you ever had an event run long? Councilwoman: Of course. Frank: Imagineyou have tremors inyourhands that preventyou from drinkingwithout a straw. You are going to a city council meeting, but you don’t expect to be there for more than 90 minutes, so you don’t think to pack a reusable straw. When you arrive, you find the meeting will be delayed by an hour because the air conditioner in the council room is leaking. After waiting in the heat, then attending the meeting, you’re very thirsty. You want to get a glass of water, but straws are banned at public events, so none are available. Do you have equal access to water? Councilwoman: I see your point, Frank, but how often is a situation like that going to occur? And does it really outweigh the harm that single-use plastics do to our environment? Frank: Statistics show that 1 in 5 people in this country have a disability. While not all of them have a condition that requires they use straws, don’t we need to provide