Yarett E. Piñeiro Rodríguez is a Deaf scholar, educator, researcher, and international accessibility consultant specializing in sign language education, inclusive systems, neuroeducation, and Deaf community advocacy. Her work spans Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, North America, and the United Kingdom, with a focus on systemic change, linguistic rights, and equitable access to education and public services for Deaf individuals.
Born Deaf, Yarett experienced first-hand the structural barriers that limit educational access for Deaf students. Despite minimal interpreter availability and institutional support, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, and a Master’s degree in Educational Neuroscience from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus. Her academic foundation integrates science, language, and neurodevelopment, allowing her to design evidence-based, culturally responsive learning models.
In 2003, while still an undergraduate, she became one of the first Deaf individuals to formally testify before the Puerto Rico Senate and Legislature, advocating for accessibility policies across government agencies and the public higher education system. Her testimony directly influenced the establishment of the Law 51 Committees across the eleven campuses of the University of Puerto Rico, leading to the institutionalization of Disability Student Services Offices (OSEI) systemwide.
In 2017, Yarett was selected by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in
Hungary, representing one of 139 countries, to present her research:
“Human Rights to an Education that Promotes the Academic and Social
Development of Deaf People in Puerto Rico.” She became the first Deaf Puerto Rican to be selected for this international forum, representing Puerto Rico on a global stage.
In 2023, she joined the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), United Kingdom, as a collaborator on the iCAN Project, a multinational initiative focused on documenting Caribbean sign languages, strengthening linguistic recognition, and developing inclusive educational policies and service frameworks.
Yarett has served as a university professor for over nine years across the University of Puerto Rico system (Ponce, Aguadilla, Mayagüez, and Río Piedras Campuses). She is currently the Founder and President of ASLES Corporation (Advancement in Sign Language Education & Services), a multi-service organization providing sign language education, interpreter training, accessibility consulting, neuro-education programs, early intervention services, and inclusive curriculum design.
She brings 21 years of professional experience as a Deaf interpreter in educational, legal, healthcare, and mental health settings, and over 28 years as an educator and program designer. Her work integrates research, policy, community engagement, and applied practice to improve outcomes for Deaf individuals and families.
Impact & Core Competencies
• Sign Language Education & Curriculum Development (LSPR/ASL)
• Accessibility & ADA/Disability Compliance Consulting
• Neuroeducation & Inclusive Learning Design
• Deaf Interpreter Training & Professional Standards
• Public Policy Advocacy & Systems Change
• Community-Based Research & Program Evaluation
• International Collaboration & Capacity Building
Mission Statement
Yarett’s mission is to advance linguistic justice, inclusive education, and accessible systems by building sustainable programs, influencing policy, and empowering Deaf communities to thrive academically, socially, and economically.