Do you miss coffee? Sometimes a disability can prevent the simplest enjoyments like your routine cup of warm java, but it may not need to be this way.

Trouble lifting cup

One way in which a disability may affect our drinking habits is the difficulty of lifting a glass to our mouths. Many disabilities adversely affect arm range of motion, as well as hand strength and dexterity.

Basically, the inability to lift a cup makes coffee, in particular, hard to drink. It is normally not recommended to drink coffee through a straw, since most straws are made of soft plastic and do not work well in very hot liquids. Also, drinking hot coffee through a straw is impractical and may cause you to burn your lips.

To make the lifting process easier, consider an adaptive coffee mug like the Granny Jo Dignity Mug. This ceramic mug features two handles on both sides to allow for stabler two-handed use.

Another option for those who prefer one handle is the Hand to Hand Mug, which has a large, easy-to-grip handle plus raised grooves on the cup for increased stability.

Health pros and cons

Another way in which disability can make enjoying our favorite warm delight lies in the fact that there may be health issues with increased caffeine consumption. You should always discuss health pros and cons with your doctor, but here are some possible ways to make coffee work for your health:

• Drink decaf – We know it’s not as good as regular, but according to this WebMD news article, studies indicate that almost all the benefits of caffeinated coffee are present in decaf, with healthy minerals like magnesium and chromium, and most importantly, antioxidants.
• Drink coffee in moderation – This is especially important if you are not drinking decaf coffee, as increased caffeine consumption can lead to high blood pressure and other health problems. One or two cups a day seems to be safe for most people.
• Get regular sleep – While coffee has apparent health benefits, it should not be affecting your sleep patterns. Loss of sleep can lead to fatigue more easily for many types of mobility disability and neurological disorders.

Whether we admit it or not, our coffee break is probably our favorite part of the day. If you have been having trouble because of a disability, you deserve to be able to reclaim this part of your day day. Hey, it might even be healthy!

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