Canadian disability rights advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel is hopeful that her involvement in the upcoming movie “Being Heumann” will 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 various establishments in Toronto, with some of her videos garnering over a million views.
The 32-year-old activist started producing these videos during the COVID-19 pandemic to showcase the obstacles people with disabilities encounter when visiting their favorite places. 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 and accessibility. She highlights the struggles individuals with disabilities endure just to leave their homes, citing issues such as the lack of online accessibility information, inaccessible facilities like washrooms and entryways as major barriers.
Following her gymnastics career-ending injury at the age of 14, Lindsay-Noel embarked on a journey of self-discovery, eventually branching out into entrepreneurship and auditioning for the biopic “Being Heumann,” which centers on disability rights activist Judith Heumann. The film, directed and written by Academy Award winner Sian Heder, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lindsay-Noel’s participation in the movie, portraying one of the demonstrators during a historic protest, is a significant moment for her. She commended Heder for creating an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere on set, emphasizing the importance of addressing ableism and promoting honest conversations about disability.
The film “Being Heumann” delves into a pivotal 28-day sit-in protest in San Francisco in 1977, led by activists advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities. Lindsay-Noel lauds Heumann’s contributions to the disability rights movement, acknowledging the challenges faced by protesters during the demonstration.
For Lindsay-Noel, her involvement in “Being Heumann” represents a unique opportunity that has empowered her to advocate for disability rights and raise awareness about accessibility issues faced by the disabled community.