When Carmell Nesbitt first heard the City of Victoria is considering banning disposable straws, she immediately bought more from the store.

NesbittB次元官网网址檚 37-year-old son Scott has cerebral palsy and a swallowing condition, so he canB次元官网网址檛 drink without plastic, bendable straws. His dysplasia can also make him aspirate fluid into his lungs. Without access to straws, Scott could become dehydrated.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of like when you have freezing done for dental work and you try to swallow but it drools all down your face. ItB次元官网网址檚 like that all the time for him,B次元官网网址� Nesbitt said. B次元官网网址淓ven with the straws, he still needs other people to hold his cup.B次元官网网址�

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TheyB次元官网网址檝e tried everything.

B次元官网网址淏ecause he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have the motor control, when he drinks out of a paper straw it squeezes too tight and it collapses, then the straw doesnB次元官网网址檛 work anymore. If he uses a hard straw, he canB次元官网网址檛 get a good suction on it and canB次元官网网址檛 get the fluid up,B次元官网网址� she said.

At the suggestion of a friend, she bought reusable silicone straws, but Scott found they were still too thick to get proper suction. Other reusable straws, such as those made of metal, are too hard. The ones that donB次元官网网址檛 bend canB次元官网网址檛 stay in his mouth at all.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just disastrous,B次元官网网址� Nesbitt said.

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Scott lives in a group home, and goes out often to restaurants, especially to Tim Hortons for hot chocolate. He works twice a week, where heB次元官网网址檒l eat lunch while at his job. He goes through six to eight straws a day, one with every meal and then every time he drinks between that.

B次元官网网址淲e always try to make sure we have straws with us and he brings them with him, but sometimes the supply runs out. He gets frustrated because itB次元官网网址檚 too hard to drink. He says no because he knows itB次元官网网址檚 going to make a mess and itB次元官网网址檚 embarrassing,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that it also impacts his independence.

B次元官网网址淚 understand the issue of why they want to ban the straws for the environment,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗owever, before they do something like that, they really need to come up with another option thatB次元官网网址檚 going to work for people like my son. I know there are some options, but there are still not enough good options available.B次元官网网址�

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@KeiliBartlett
keili.bartlett@blackpress.ca

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