06/28/2026
For most people, changing a drinking cup is a small inconvenience. For Ben Carter from Devon, England, it was much more than that.
Ben, who has severe autism and is non-speaking, had used the same blue two-handled Tommee Tippee cup since he was a toddler. It was the only cup he trusted, and he refused to drink from any other.
The cup had been discontinued years earlier. As his last replacement became worn out, his family tried introducing different cups, but Ben refused them. He became so dehydrated that he was hospitalized twice.
In 2016, Ben’s father, Marc Carter, shared their story on social media through the campaign. The appeal quickly went viral, prompting people around the world to search their homes for the discontinued cup and send any they found to the family.
The story eventually reached Tommee Tippee. After locating the original mould at a factory in China, the company produced 500 identical blue cups to ensure Ben would have access to the cup he trusted for years to come.
Ben’s story highlighted an important reality: autistic people can have highly individual sensory needs, and understanding and accommodating those needs can make a profound difference in their lives.
