About Shelby Edwards

Shelby Edwards was born and raised in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

From an early age, she had a passion for the theater and loved participating in bilingual plays at her local community theater. Shelby attended Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee where she pursued a Bachelor of the Arts in American Sign Language – English Interpreting and Deaf Studies. During her studies, Shelby completed an interpreting internship with the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults, where she learned DeafBlind tactile interpreting and explored New York City for the first time.

In 2013, Shelby graduated Sigma Cum Laude, was awarded the Irma Young Outstanding Senior Award in Interpreting, and was on her way to achieving her dreams in becoming a professional sign language interpreter. Shortly after graduating, Shelby worked closely with mentors from a local school district and community agency in Tennessee before relocating to New York, NY where she started her career as a freelance interpreter.

During the course of her freelance career, Shelby saw firsthand that a one-size-fits-all approach to accessibility services did not properly address neither the needs of the Deaf community nor the accessibility professionals within it.

Determined to improve inclusion and equal-access in New York, in 2016 Shelby partnered with Tyler Herron to found Inclusive Communication Services, Inc. – the first mission-focused, community-based interpreting agency designed to set a new standard for accessibility services for the Deaf, Blind, and Limited English Proficient (LEP).

Shelby is particularly passionate about equal access for the Theater and Arts, which motivated her to create ICS’s Village Hands initiative to ensure independent theaters in New York City have access to inclusive accommodation services, regardless of size or budget.  Although Shelby stays busy as the CEO of ICS and CXO of Eclipse Scheduling, she continues to support local theaters and travels as often as possible.