20.114 Disability Commission Recommendation
City Council Office
City Hall, Room 16
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
December 8, 2020
Hello City Council Members,
The Disability Commission was asked by the City Council to review and make recommendations to the
City’s Draft “Plastic Reduction & Sustainability Ordinance” by December 10, 2020, which are outlined
immediately below.
Allow for an Exemption for any person to request a bendable plastic straw at food establishments
as part of a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) without
inquiry into whether they have a disability, the nature of it, or to show documentation
Allow for an Exemption for any person to request a plastic bag at a retail or food establishment as
part of a reasonable accommodation under the ADA without inquiry into whether they have a
disability, the nature of it, or to show documentation
The Disability Commission is an advisory board for the City and is comprised of people with disabilities,
family members of people with disabilities, an elected official, Office of Planning & Sustainability staff,
and people who are concerned for the welfare of people with disabilities. Some of the Commission’s
members have firsthand knowledge why the banning of plastic straws and bags could be detrimental to
the lives of people the disabilities.
First, the use of non-plastic straws are not as useable for many people with disabilities. It is very difficult
for people without fine motor control or tremors to get the straw properly to their mouth without a
bendable plastic straw. Secondly, the materials could cause harm. Glass, acrylic, bamboo, or metal could
be very injurious to people with tremors or people lacking fine motor control. Additionally, these
alternative materials could cause an allergic reaction or cause extreme discomfort for people with
temperature sensitivities. Paper straws can dissolve during use and the materials could go down
someone’s throat, creating a choking hazard or cause skin irritation.
On top of the damaging effects, a plastic straw ban would have a deleterious effect on the quality of life
for people with disabilities. If people chose to bring their own straws to food establishments because
plastic was not offered, they would need to ensure that they always had their plastic straws on them. This
is in addition to all of the medical considerations they must make each day and how they will navigate
through the physical space that has yet to fully accommodate their mobility challenges. This can make
planning the day exhausting and being spontaneous difficult. Buying reusable straws for some people
with disabilities could make them cost-prohibitive. Additionally, cleaning reusable straws can be very
challenging for people with disabilities or an additional consideration for their caretakers.
The proposed ban on plastic bags can be just as harmful to the quality of life. For instance, paper does not
have the same strength to hold items, especially in wet conditions. It is also especially important to
consider that people with disabilities travel times between their destinations are longer, maybe involving
different transportation methods, so the paper bags will likely lose their structural integrity more often.
Second, the loops on the plastic bags can be use to hook around items to keep the bag in place or kept tied
down so that items to not get lost.
The request for bendable plastic straws at food establishments by people with disabilities should be
granted without delay and without any inquiry by employees into the nature of their disability or a request
for documentation. It would be illegal to do so and it can be humiliating for the person being asked to
prove themselves.
The Disability Commission recognize the need for reducing the use of single-use plastics, but the needs of
people with disabilities should be considered. They need not feel ashamed of their necessity for bendable
plastic straws or plastic bags.
We welcome your comments back on our proposal and any questions you may have. We would be more
than happy to speak in front of City Council, if you would like someone from the Disability Commission
to speak.
Best Regards,
Jeremy Macomber-Dubs, Chair
Emma Cornwell, Vice-Chair