Abay Tesfaye is a lecturer at Addis Ababa University, Department of Linguistics and Philology, Ethiopian Sign Language and Deaf Culture Program Unit. He has been teaching various courses related with Deafness, Sign Language and Interpreting since 2011. He is PhD candidate, and his research interest focuses on Application of Demand-Control Schema to Ethiopian Sign Language Interpreting in the Educational Settings.

As an activist for the rights and dignity of the Deaf Community, Abay Tesfaye is also one of the founding members and Manager of Ethiopian Deaf Enlightenment Organization (EDEO). EDEO is a local NGO registered and certified by the Agency of Civic Organizations in Ethiopia. EDEO aims towards the development and recognition of Ethiopian Sign Language, and thereby promote the full participation of the Deaf Community in social, educational, economic, health, and legal interests.

As an activist for the rights and dignity of the Deaf Community, Abay Tesfaye is also one of the founding members of Ethiopian Deaf Enlightenment Organization (EDEO). EDEO is a local non-governmental and non-profit organization registered by the Agency of Civic Organizations in Ethiopia. EDEO aims towards the development and recognition of Ethiopian Sign Language (EthSL), and thereby promote the full and equal participation of the Deaf Community in social, educational, economic, health, and legal interests.