Disclaimer from the author: The disability community is increasingly preferring to use identity-first language (disabled person) in place of person-first language (person with a disability). This is because many in the community view disability as being a core component of identity, much like race and gender. Some members of the community, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, still prefer person-first language. Both should be considered valid. This blog post intentionally uses both
There are often things that are suggested or proposed in an effort to stop climate change that have an impact on disabled individuals. The straw bans are a good example of this. People are quick to point out the environmental impacts of straws, specifically the ways that straws end up in the ocean where sea life are killed by them. But the issue is that many disabled individuals need straws to drink. Bans often put an extra burden on individuals with disabilities to always have their own straws along with everything else they need to carry. Sometimes even servers in restaurants who are supposed to provide straws when asked will refused based on their own beliefs.
This is called Eco-Ableism – Eco-Ableism is the term for the (often unintentional) discrimination against disabled people that can occur when environmental activists have ideas about what disabled people should or should not be doing for the environment. Often Eco-Ableism is caused by misunderstandings about what needs to be done or information that is presented without making it clear that there need to be exceptions. For example, disabled people still need access to straws to drink and cars for traveling.
Eco-Ableism also shows up in discussions about food preparation. Many people with disabilities have difficulties with cooking from scratch and so it’s often easier, and safer, to buy prepared food. But all too often you will hear disparaging comments about how prepared food is a waste and or how people are just lazy. In addition, many people have food restrictions that can make it difficult to follow environmentally friendly diets.
While we all can do things to help lessen the impact of climate change it must be stated that it is corporations that are the main cause of climate change. While it makes sense to provide information to people about what can be done it doesn’t do good to attack individuals who cannot make all the necessary changes. Energy would be better spent getting corporations to change. But often individuals are the easier target, and unfortunately often disabled individuals are bear the brunt of the conflicts.
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