This meeting was a second event in a series of conversations on mobility and access to transportation in NYC facilitated by Yan Grenier. During this meeting, we viewed excerpts of the “Biggest Obstacle”, a 2021 documentary produced by advocates as they examined the transit system over a two-year period. 

The viewing was followed by the discussion with Jessica Murray, associate producer, Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, member of Rise and Resist Elevator Action Group, and Jessica de la Rosa, an accessibility and disability advocate. Both Jessicas are members of the Advisory Committee for Transit Accessibility (ACTA) with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).  

The event was made possible with the generous funding support of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC). 

Synopsis of the movie: 

“The Biggest Obstacle” follows the investigations of Jessica Murray, a researcher and disability rights activist, as she examines accessibility in the New York City Transit System over a two-year period wherein she progresses from a vocal activist to a person of actual influence and import in the system, all during her own imminent transition into disability status due to multiple sclerosis. The film features numerous interviews and ride-alongs with people with a variety of disabilities as they discuss and demonstrate their experiences with the transit system and their activism to fight for their rights. It also includes documentation of numerous protests and an exclusive interview and ride-along with New York Transit President Andy Byford as he discusses the work he did to improve accessibility and his sudden departure from that position in the middle of restructuring the system. 

The Biggest Obstacle was part of the NYC Independent Film Festival 2021 as well as the Manhattan Film Festival 2021 and was the winner of Award of Merit, Documentary Feature, IndieFest Film Awards 2021. 

You can watch the full feature documentary @ 

Click here to see the full film on Tubi TV  

Click here to see the full film on Plex

You can view the event’s recording here.