Canadian disability rights advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel is aiming to use her involvement in the upcoming movie “Being Heumann” to shed light on the ongoing accessibility challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. Known as Access by Tay online, Lindsay-Noel creates content reviewing the accessibility of various establishments 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 producing these videos to highlight the obstacles that people with disabilities encounter when frequenting their favorite venues. Through her social media presence, Lindsay-Noel urges restaurants and businesses to provide accurate information about their accessibility features.
Raised in Toronto, Lindsay-Noel emphasizes the city’s potential for greater inclusivity, stressing the often overlooked difficulties individuals with disabilities encounter just to leave their homes. She points out that many establishments fail to offer accessibility information online, with issues such as inaccessible washrooms and entryways posing significant barriers.
Despite the challenges, Lindsay-Noel notes that a majority of the restaurants she reviewed have reached out to her, expressing their commitment to enhancing accessibility. A former national gymnast, Lindsay-Noel’s life took a different trajectory at the age of 14 when a gymnastics accident left her with a spinal cord injury, paralyzing her from the chest down.
Transitioning from her athletic identity, Lindsay-Noel delved into various ventures, including launching her own tea company. Her passion for advocating for disability rights led her to audition for “Being Heumann,” a biopic centered around American disability rights activist Judith Heumann, set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The movie, directed and written by Academy Award winner Sian Heder, portrays the events of a historic 28-day sit-in protest at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1977. Lindsay-Noel, who plays a protester in the film, describes the experience as a unique opportunity and commends Heder for creating an inclusive environment on set.
Acknowledging the prevalence of ableism, Lindsay-Noel stresses the importance of honest conversations surrounding disabilities. She believes that through open dialogue and understanding, she can effectively advocate for accessibility and challenge societal perceptions.
The film “Being Heumann,” featuring Ruth Madeley as Judith Heumann, alongside Mark Ruffalo and Dylan O’Brien in supporting roles, sheds light on the struggles faced by disabled activists during the sit-in protest. The demonstrators demanded the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, highlighting the importance of disability rights advocacy in society.