Canadian disability rights activist Taylor Lindsay-Noel is hopeful that her involvement in the upcoming movie “Being Heumann” will raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing various facilities. 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.
At the age of 32, Lindsay-Noel started creating these videos post the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to showcase the obstacles that people with disabilities encounter when visiting establishments. Through her social media presence, she urges restaurants and businesses to provide accurate details about their accessibility features.
Raised in Toronto, Lindsay-Noel emphasizes the city’s potential for greater inclusivity, expressing her belief that individuals with disabilities often face significant hurdles just in leaving their homes. She notes that some places fail to offer accessibility information online, with challenges like inaccessible washrooms and entry points being major barriers she has encountered.
Lindsay-Noel mentions that following her reviews, the majority of the restaurants she assessed reached out to her with plans for enhancements. Her involvement in the film “Being Heumann,” a portrayal of American disability rights activist Judith Heumann directed and written by Academy Award winner Sian Heder, portrays Lindsay-Noel’s journey from a national gymnast to a disability rights advocate.
The film “Being Heumann” sheds light on the story of the organizers of a notable 28-day sit-in protest at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1977, advocating for the enforcement of regulations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 safeguarding the rights of individuals with disabilities. Lindsay-Noel commends Heumann’s pivotal role in the disability rights movement, acknowledging the challenges faced during the protest due to the diverse needs of the demonstrators.
Lindsay-Noel’s participation in the film, where she played a protester during the sit-in, is described as a rare opportunity that left her feeling valued and significant. She appreciated her time on set with Heder, known for directing and writing “CODA,” a celebrated comedy-drama. Lindsay-Noel plans to attend the film’s premiere, continuing her advocacy against ableism and promoting open conversations about disability.
In her efforts to combat ableism, Lindsay-Noel stresses the importance of candid discussions, aiming to find common ground through her reviews and advocacy work, fostering a better understanding of disability issues.