“WhAt makES SMarTwAtER sO sMArT?”
That sarcastic question hit me the other day, and the answer is far more personal than you might think. You see, I’m not just choosing Smart Water because it’s trendy or tastes better. It’s a necessity born from my reality—a life where I have no legs and all or part of each of my fingers and thumbs have been amputated. What most people don’t realize is that something as simple as choosing a water bottle can make the difference between independence and frustration for someone with my condition.
For many people, opening a flimsy plastic water bottle is a task so trivial that it barely registers as an action. A quick twist, a sip, and you’re done. But for me, every attempt to twist off those caps is met with defeat. My hands, altered and weakened from multiple amputations, can’t grip the caps, and when I try, the bottle collapses in my grasp. Those lightweight, eco-friendly bottles might be great for the environment, but they’re a nightmare for someone like me. They fold like paper when I try to drink, spilling water all over me before I even get a chance to take a sip.
This is why Smart Water is so “smart” for me. It’s not just about hydration—it’s about empowerment. The rigidity of the Smart Water bottle allows me to open and hold it without crushing it. It lets me drink on my own terms, without having to ask for help or brace myself for an inevitable spill. When you’re disabled, those small victories—being able to complete everyday tasks on your own—mean everything.
Most people will never know what it’s like to lose the use of their hands or fingers. They’ll never understand the deep frustration of being physically unable to do something as simple as drink from a bottle. When you’re disabled, you start to notice the subtle ways that products either include or exclude you. It’s these moments that remind you that the world wasn’t built for people like you.
Imagine, for a moment, having to ask someone to open every single bottle of water you drink—then having to ask them to hold it while you take a sip because your hands simply can’t manage the flimsy plastic. The shame, the frustration, the constant need to rely on others—it chips away at your sense of independence. Something as simple as drinking water becomes an ordeal, a reminder of your limitations. But a sturdy bottle like Smart Water’s gives me back that independence, even if it’s just in this small way.
When people ask me, “What makes Smart Water so smart?” they don’t realize that it’s not just a marketing gimmick for me. It’s a lifeline to a little piece of self-sufficiency, a reminder that I can still do something as simple as hydrate without needing to rely on someone else.
I’m sharing this story because I believe we need to do more to design products with everyone in mind. Most people don’t think twice about how something like a water bottle might affect someone who can’t grip, twist, or hold things the way they used to. But for people with disabilities, these design choices can feel like the world is conspiring to strip away their dignity.
We need to stop seeing these issues as minor inconveniences. We need to start creating products and environments that accommodate everyone—disabled or not. Something as small as making a water bottle more durable might seem insignificant, but for someone like me, it represents a win, a moment where the world feels just a little bit more accessible.
So next time you pick up a flimsy plastic bottle, consider this: It might be saving a few cents on production costs, but it’s also costing someone their independence. We can do better. We must do better. And Smart Water, for me, is proof that it’s possible to create something that works for everyone, no matter their abilities.