Canadian disability advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel aims to use her involvement in the upcoming movie “Being Heumann” to spotlight the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing various establishments. Known as Access by Tay online, Lindsay-Noel reviews the accessibility of restaurants and businesses in Toronto through videos that have garnered millions of views.

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 32-year-old began creating these videos to shed light on the obstacles encountered by people with disabilities when patronizing their favorite venues. Through her social media platforms, Lindsay-Noel urges businesses to provide accurate accessibility information, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in a city like Toronto.

Encountering issues such as lack of online accessibility information, inaccessible facilities like washrooms and entrance doors, Lindsay-Noel has seen a positive response from the majority of the establishments she has reviewed, with many expressing intentions to enhance their accessibility features.

Having suffered a life-altering injury at the age of 14 while pursuing gymnastics, Lindsay-Noel transitioned into advocacy work and entrepreneurship, including founding her tea company. This journey led her to audition for “Being Heumann,” a biographical film depicting the life of 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 plays a protester in the film, describes the experience as a unique opportunity that made her feel valued. She commends Heder’s inclusive approach on set, reflecting on the importance of honest conversations about disability rights and challenging ableism in society.