How accessible is Toronto for someone navigating the city in a wheelchair? According to accessibility advocate Taylor Lindsay Noel, about a six out of 10.

Known online as Access by Tay, the Toronto content creator and entrepreneur reviews restaurants, neighbourhoods, transit and other spaces through an accessibility lens — highlighting what works and calling attention to the barriers that remain.

With years of experience reviewing accessibility, she believes that many businesses don’t take people with disabilities into account when designing their spaces.

“I think the stereotype that we have is that we don’t go out and don’t care to go out, so it’s kind of an afterthought in their mind,” Noel told Now Toronto.

“These considerations are seen throughout the entire experience. Whether that be just allowing us to get in in the first place, or understanding that if we do provide constructive criticism for them to do better, that it’s not something we’re doing to be mean, but something to try to help their business be more inclusive,” she added.

Through Access by Tay, Noel documents her experiences navigating restaurants, entertainment venues and public spaces, giving followers practical information about everything from wheelchair entrances and ramps to washrooms and seating. 

Her reviews also highlight a problem that can be particularly consequential for people with disabilities: businesses describing themselves as accessible when the reality on arrival can be very different.

Toronto accessibility overall

Toronto accessibility overall

Asked to grade Toronto’s overall accessibility, Noel landed at six out of 10 — a passing mark, but hardly a glowing one.

“I want to be honest, but I want to be kind, because I do love my city so much. I think there is a lot of room for improvement compared to other smaller cities,” she told Now Toronto.

Here’s why she rated Toronto a six out of 10:

Inaccessible streets: King Street and Yorkville

When it comes to neighbourhoods, Noel singled out King Street as particularly challenging for accessible restaurants, while Yorkville earned some of her strongest criticism.

“It is such a shame because there are so many restaurants or even shops that I hear about that I would have loved to visit, but I won’t have the opportunity to because they don’t seem to want to change over there,” she explained.

Which Toronto neighbourhoods fare better?

Noel said the Yonge-Dundas area fares better, which she attributes in part to the volume of tourists it serves. Midtown, however, has provided some of her better accessibility experiences, with several spots she enjoys visiting.

From the subway to the streetcar: the TTC experience for someone living with a disability

Noel gives the TTC an overall accessibility rating of six out of 10, but says her experience can vary significantly depending on the mode of transit and circumstances of the trip.

Noel rates the TTC a six out of 10, with different ratings for the streetcar and subway.

The subway’s a six, but streetcars — it depends on whether they’re old or new.

“The newer streetcar is phenomenal. But there are still some old streetcars around that are just not the best experience,” she said.

The old ones: a five. New: a seven.

Snowbanks or construction, what’s worse?

As a wheelchair user, Noel shared that getting around in the winter can become quite the challenge, especially when the sidewalks aren’t properly cleared.

“I’m often not even able to get out of a cab because they can’t open the ramp onto the sidewalk anymore. I often have to get off in the middle of the street or an intersection because I’m not able to access sidewalks. The wintertime in the city, it’s hell,” she explained.

Where in Toronto is in need of a serious accessibility upgrade?

Noel pointed to a previous experience at Kasa Moto as an example of what she considers one of the most frustrating accessibility barriers: arriving at a business after being told it is accessible, only to discover she cannot enter.

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Noel said she had booked the restaurant for a friend’s 30th birthday but was unable to access the venue despite what she says she had been told beforehand.

“I booked my friend’s 30th birthday there, and we were left out in the cold because of their inaccessibility, and lying about their accessibility on their Google listing and call,” she explained.

She added that they’ve touched her biggest pet peeve: inaccurate information.

“I only go to places that they themselves say they’re accessible. So if I show up, and it’s not accessible, that’s on them,” Noel said. “So my biggest pet peeve is that they lie or have inaccurate information about their establishment.”

Now Toronto contacted Kasa Moto for comment regarding Noel’s experience and its accessibility information.

“We can’t guarantee that our restaurant is accessible in all scenarios,” the restaurant’s AI phone-line answered. No host was available to answer the call. 

Which Toronto venues get accessibility right?

Noel shared her love for concerts, especially those at the Scotiabank Arena.

“I’m a big concertgoer, and I think Scotiabank Arena has done a really good job of improving their accessibility,” she said.

But for restaurants, she says Casa Madeira is a great accessible spot.

‘It’s something that affects everybody’: Noel’s accessibility requests to Chow

Asked what message she would send to Mayor Olivia Chow about accessibility in Toronto, Noel said she wants the city to treat it as an issue that extends far beyond people currently living with disabilities.

“It’s something that affects everybody, not only presently, but in the future,” she said. “Making the city more accessible will make it a better city and experience for everybody.”

Noel added that everyone benefits from accessibility, whether it’s easier-access doors or ramps when there’s no way to reach an elevator.

“Accessibility is truly something that everybody needs, and it needs to be talked about more. I’ll continue to do what I do until I don’t have a job anymore,” she said.