Canadian disability rights advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel aims to use her part in the upcoming movie “Being Heumann” to shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing public spaces. Known as Access by Tay online, Lindsay-Noel creates content reviewing 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 started producing these videos to demonstrate the obstacles encountered by individuals with disabilities when visiting establishments. Through her social media presence, Lindsay-Noel urges restaurants and businesses to provide accurate accessibility information to the public.
Born and raised in Toronto, Lindsay-Noel emphasizes that the city has the resources to be more inclusive. She highlights the struggles faced by individuals with disabilities, such as the lack of online accessibility information for certain places and physical barriers like inaccessible restrooms and entryways.
The majority of the restaurants reviewed by Lindsay-Noel have reached out to her with plans for enhancing accessibility after her feedback. A former national gymnast, Lindsay-Noel suffered a life-altering injury at the age of 14, breaking her neck while attempting a gymnastics move, which left her paralyzed from the chest down.
Transitioning from a career in sports to advocating for disability rights, Lindsay-Noel ventured into various pursuits, including launching her own tea company. Her dedication led her to audition for a role in “Being Heumann,” a biopic centered on American disability rights activist Judith Heumann, set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Directed and written by Academy Award winner Sian Heder, the film delves into a historic protest in 1977 advocating for disability rights.
Lindsay-Noel, who had a non-speaking role as a protester in the film, expressed gratitude for the unique opportunity, emphasizing the inclusive and uplifting atmosphere fostered by Heder on set. In addition to her film involvement, Lindsay-Noel has been outspoken about ableism, highlighting the importance of honest conversations to address and combat discrimination against individuals with disabilities.