Canadian disability advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel, also known as Access by Tay, is participating in the upcoming movie Being Heumann to raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing public spaces. Lindsay-Noel, based in Toronto, creates online content reviewing the accessibility of various establishments in the city, with some of her videos garnering over a million views.
Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 32-year-old began producing these videos to highlight the obstacles encountered by people with disabilities when visiting different venues. Through her social media presence, Lindsay-Noel urges restaurants and businesses to provide accurate information regarding their accessibility features.
Despite the potential for inclusivity in Toronto, Lindsay-Noel emphasizes the frequent hurdles individuals with disabilities encounter, such as the lack of online accessibility information, inaccessible facilities like washrooms and entryways. However, she notes that many of the establishments she reviewed reached out to her with plans for improvement.
Having previously been a national gymnast, Lindsay-Noel faced a life-altering injury at the age of 14 that left her paralyzed from the chest down. Determined to redefine herself beyond her athletic identity, she transitioned to advocating for disability rights and even ventured into entrepreneurship by establishing her own tea company.
Inspired by her passion for disability advocacy, Lindsay-Noel auditioned for a role in Being Heumann, a biographical film about American disability rights activist Judith Heumann. The movie, directed and written by Academy Award winner Sian Heder, is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Lindsay-Noel, who secured a non-speaking part in the film as one of the sit-in protesters, views this experience as a unique opportunity that holds personal significance.
Acknowledging the importance of candid discussions about ableism, Lindsay-Noel believes in promoting transparency and understanding in her advocacy efforts. She stresses the significance of honest conversations in addressing disability-related issues effectively, both in her reviews and across her various communication platforms.