Maayan Ziv
Creator of the AccessNow app, as well as a photographer and entrepreneur, Maayan Ziv (she/her) is raising awareness for accessibility issues and standing up for the rights of disabled individuals. AccessNow was created in 2015 as a way for anyone to check the accessibility of any location, building, or restaurant. It was designed to empower people with disabilities and ensure their safety when visiting new places. From her interview with the Urban Land Toronto Institute, Ziv shares that the biggest challenge in the industry is this: “It is essential to recognize that accessibility is not just a compliance issue but a transformative design approach that fosters inclusion for individuals of all abilities.”
Taylor Lindsey-Noel (@accessbytay)
Based in Toronto, Taylor Lindsey-Noel is a distinguished disability rights advocate, motivational speaker, and TikTok influencer. With over 150k followers on the video-sharing app, she creates content about accessibility during travel, disabled lifestyle, and her own tea brand–Cup of Té. This luxury loose-leaf tea brand was recognized on the list of Oprah’s Favourite Things, twice! Lindsey-Noel is a former gymnast. Despite the training accident that caused her disability, the renowned advocate is someone “…who believes inclusion should be a lived experience, not an afterthought.” Recently, she visited the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Foundation to share her lived experience and celebrate the upcoming National Accessibility Week (May 31 – June 6).
Sarah Jama
Serving as a member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre from 2023 to 2025, Sarah Jama has been an active speaker for accessibility, disabled rights, the unhoused, and the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflicts. Jama was born with cerebral palsy, a lifelong neurological disorder that affects movement, posture, and muscle tone. She is a proud wheelchair and walker user to aid in her mobility. Jama also co-founded the Disability Justice Network Ontario in September 2018, and co-founded the Hamilton Encampment Support Network in 2021, which was spearheaded to create affordable housing access.
Allison Lang
Allison Lang is a Paralympian, sitting volleyball player, model, and accessibility advocate/speaker. Born missing the lower half of her left leg, Lang has never let her disability stand in the way of doing whatever she puts her mind to. In addition to her Paralympian journey, Lang is a digital marketer and content creator, posting short-form lifestyle and disability content to her Instagram (@allisonelang, 25.7k followers). Lang also recently appeared on a pre-K educational television program, June, How We Do It. The series is scheduled for release on June 22nd. Lang shared her excitement on Instagram: “To now be part of a show where kids of all abilities get to see themselves, feel included, and learn about accessibility, friendship, big feelings, and trying new things… it means everything!”
Paige Layle
