Canadian disability rights advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel aims to use her involvement in the upcoming movie “Being Heumann” to shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing various establishments.
Known online as Access by Tay, Lindsay-Noel reviews the accessibility of restaurants and businesses in Toronto, with some of her videos garnering over a million views. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 32-year-old began creating these videos to highlight the obstacles that people with disabilities encounter when visiting public places.
Through her social media content, Lindsay-Noel urges restaurants and businesses to provide accurate details about their accessibility features. Raised in Toronto, she emphasizes the city’s potential for greater inclusivity, stating that the simple act of leaving the house can be a significant hurdle for individuals with disabilities.
Lindsay-Noel points out that many establishments fail to offer accessibility information online, with challenges like inaccessible washrooms and entryways posing major obstacles. However, she notes that the majority of the restaurants she has reviewed have reached out to her with plans to enhance their accessibility measures.
A former national gymnast, Lindsay-Noel’s life took a turn at 14 when a gymnastics accident left her paralyzed from the chest down. Embracing a new identity beyond that of an athlete, she delved into disability rights activism and even ventured into entrepreneurship by starting her own tea company.
Driven by her passion for advocacy, Lindsay-Noel auditioned for “Being Heumann,” a biographical film centered on American disability rights activist Judith Heumann. The movie, directed and written by Academy Award winner Sian Heder, is slated to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film depicts the historic 28-day sit-in protest led by Heumann at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1977. Lindsay-Noel praises Heumann’s pivotal role in advancing disability rights, acknowledging the challenges faced by activists during the protest.
In a rare opportunity, Lindsay-Noel secured a non-speaking role in the film as one of the protesters participating in the sit-in. She describes the experience as unforgettable and expresses gratitude for being part of the project.
Lauding Heder’s inclusive approach on set, Lindsay-Noel looks forward to the premiere and emphasizes the importance of addressing ableism in society. She believes in promoting open and honest conversations about disability to foster greater understanding and inclusivity.
