Pawlos kassu Abebe (PhD) is a Deaf Sign Linguist and a disability rights advocate. His research specialization includes Ethiopian sign language grammar and Tactile sign language used by the deaf in Ethiopia. He has published six books and a number of research papers. He is the Coordinator of Ethiopian Sign Language and Deaf Culture Studies Program Unit at Addis Ababa University. He is also an active advocate for disability rights at national, continental and international levels. Among others he has served as the president of Federation of Ethiopian National Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FENAPD), founding board member of African Disability Forum (ADF). He is currently serving as the president of Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf (ENAD) and board member of Deafblind International (DbI).