Pablo Taveras

Pablo Taveras Cueto was born profoundly Deaf and raised in Santo Domingo, the second of four children; one of his sisters is also Deaf. His first school was an oral school that banned sign language. At age five, his parents found a Deaf school where signing was allowed, and there he finally acquired language. He stayed there through high school. An international camp for young Deaf leaders in Norway opened his eyes to the Deaf world and showed him that with the right skills, Deaf people can do anything. It inspired him to lead.

He served as President of ANSORDO (National Association of the Deaf of the Dominican Republic) from 2019 to 2025, advocating for Deaf rights locally, nationally, and internationally, including championing the historic bill to officially recognize Dominican Sign Language (LSRD). With an interpreter his family helped hire, he earned his B.A. in Publicity from Universidad APEC in 2018.

As a storyteller, his short film El Mundo de Alex won Best Inclusion at SmartFilms Dominicana. As a translator for the Dominican Bible Society, he brings scripture to life in LSRD, including full translations of Jonah, Ruth, Philippians, Philemon, and 1 & 2 John, alongside Genesis 1–3, Psalm 23, selections from Luke, five core teachings of Jesus, and both James and 3 John (currently in progress).

As a content creator, he uses social media to dismantle myths about Deaf culture, replace misconceptions with clarity, and invent fresh ways to bridge communication barriers for the entire Deaf community. And next on the horizon: an illustrated cartoon book about his journey. Stay tuned for the surprise.

He has worked as a sign language instructor, actor, filmmaker and video editor, translator of the Bible into Dominican Sign Language, consultant on the first official Dominican Sign Language dictionary, and researcher on Deaf health access. In 2023 he founded ILY Interpreting Services, a Deaf-owned interpreting agency.