Canadian disability rights advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel is optimistic that her involvement in the upcoming movie “Being Heumann” will help shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when it comes to accessibility.
Known as Access by Tay online, Lindsay-Noel shares reviews on the accessibility of restaurants and businesses in Toronto, with some of her videos garnering over a million views. Her initiative began post-COVID-19 to showcase the obstacles faced by people with disabilities when visiting establishments.
Through her social media content, Lindsay-Noel urges restaurants and businesses to provide accurate accessibility information. She emphasizes that Toronto has the resources to be more inclusive but highlights the struggles individuals with disabilities encounter, such as the lack of online accessibility information and physical barriers like inaccessible washrooms and entryways.
Following her reviews, Lindsay-Noel mentioned that most of the restaurants she assessed reached out to her with plans for improvement. The former national gymnast, who suffered a spinal cord injury at 14, expressed the importance of redefining her identity beyond athletics and embracing new opportunities.
Motivated by her passion for disability rights, Lindsay-Noel auditioned for “Being Heumann,” a biopic centered on American disability rights activist Judith Heumann. The film, directed and written by Academy Award winner Sian Heder, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“Being Heumann” portrays the story of the 1977 sit-in protest at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, led by Heumann and other activists advocating for disability rights. Lindsay-Noel, who had a minor role in the film as one of the protesters, described the experience as extraordinary and cherished the time spent on set with Heder.
In addition to her film involvement, Lindsay-Noel has been vocal about combating ableism, emphasizing the importance of candid conversations about disabilities to foster understanding and promote change.