Isela Garcia is a Hard of Hearing Latina who navigates and celebrates both Deaf and hearing cultures. Fluent in four languages—American Sign Language (ASL), English, Mexican Sign Language (LSM), and Spanish—she brings a rich multilingual and multicultural perspective to her work as an interpreter, educator, and accessibility advocate.
A graduate of Gallaudet University with a Bachelor of Arts in Interpretation, Isela currently serves as a Part-Time Sign Language Interpreter with NC State University’s Office for Equal Opportunity and works extensively as a Deaf Interpreter for Deaf and DeafBlind communities. She is especially passionate about theater and musical theater interpretation, helping make the performing arts more accessible and inclusive.
As a Creative Expert for enVISION: The Next Chapter, Isela collaborated with ShaLeigh Dance Works to explore the integration of ASL within dance-theatre performance. Through workshops, creative consultation, and embodied language exploration, she guided artists in incorporating ASL into choreography while deepening their understanding of Deaf culture, accessibility, and authentic representation. By sharing her lived experiences and expertise, Isela helps bridge communities, amplify Deaf voices, and advance a vision of the arts where accessibility is embraced as an essential creative practice.