Canadian disability advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel, also known as Access by Tay, is set to appear in the upcoming movie “Being Heumann,” aiming to raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when it comes to accessibility.
Lindsay-Noel, a resident of Toronto, started creating video reviews about the accessibility of restaurants and businesses in the city post the COVID-19 pandemic. Her videos, some of which have garnered over a million views, highlight the obstacles people with disabilities encounter when trying to access various establishments.
Through her social media presence, Lindsay-Noel urges restaurants and businesses to provide accurate information about their accessibility features. She emphasizes that many places fail to offer such information online, with issues like inaccessible washrooms and entryways being significant barriers.
Despite the challenges, Lindsay-Noel has seen positive responses from the establishments she has reviewed, with many reaching out to her to discuss improvements.
A former national gymnast, Lindsay-Noel’s life took a different trajectory after a gymnastics accident left her paralyzed from the chest down at the age of 14. She transitioned to advocating for disability rights and even ventured into entrepreneurship by starting her own tea company.
Her advocacy work led her to audition for “Being Heumann,” a film centered around the life of American disability rights activist Judith Heumann. Lindsay-Noel secured a non-speaking role in the movie, portraying one of the protesters involved in a historic sit-in protest. The film, directed by Academy Award winner Sian Heder, is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The movie depicts the 28-day sit-in protest at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1977, where demonstrators, including disabled activists, demanded the enforcement of regulations protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Lindsay-Noel acknowledges the importance of Heumann’s actions in advancing the disability rights movement, emphasizing the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in terms of support and basic necessities.
Describing her involvement in the film as a unique opportunity, Lindsay-Noel praises Heder for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment on set, regardless of the actors’ roles. She plans to attend the film’s premiere and continues to advocate against ableism, promoting honest conversations about disability through her platforms.