Nubia Amina
She/Her
- Sign Language Interpreter
Biography
For nubia queen amina, language has never been merely a set of words or symbols—it is the very terrain where power, equity, and human dignity intersect. As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), she was introduced to the profound responsibility of linguistic mediation from early childhood. Navigating complex adult environments as a young interpreter didn't just shape her worldview; it ignited a lifelong mission to challenge and restructure the systems governing accessibility. Today, she stands as a formidable force in the fields of professional interpretation, community leadership, and legislative reform.
Her journey is defined by a refusal to accept status-quo barriers. As an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, video relay interpreter, and executive assistant, she turned her lived experience into systemic expertise. Recognizing the gaps in traditional infrastructure, she stepped into entrepreneurship and community governance to build sustainable solutions. In 2017, she founded Nubian Hands LLC, followed by the establishment of the nonprofit Warming Deaf Hands in 2024. Her leadership further anchors the local landscape through her role as board interpreter and assistant executive director for the Minnesota Deaf Community Organization, where she provides critical alternative literacy support and strategic direction.
Driven by the core philosophy of Innerstand and Overstand, her work goes beyond standard service delivery—it is about deep structural autonomy and protection. Her primary advocacy focus centers on the crucial reform of ADA law and Section 504, specifically aiming to eliminate the systemic exploitation of children as interpreters in high-stakes medical and legal settings, ensuring professional standards are strictly upheld.
Currently advancing her expertise within the Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) program at Âé¶¹Ö±²¥, she seamlessly bridges academic theory with grassroots execution. Holding a degree in Individualized Studies and maintaining a strategic trajectory toward a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), she is actively equipping herself to rewrite the rules of institutional engagement. Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she continues to design frameworks of equity and generational empowerment entirely on her own terms.
Research Focus
- ADA and Section 504 Reform: Investigating structural gaps in disability legislation, with a specific focus on eliminating the systemic reliance on and exploitation of minors as interpreters in professional medical, legal, and institutional settings.
- Alternative Literacy and Communication Frameworks: Developing and analyzing strategic organizational literacy models that optimize communication access and bridge systemic divides between the Deaf community, service entities, and legislative bodies.
- Sovereignty and Equity in Accessibility Infrastructure: Examining the intersections of systemic equity, community-led governance, and institutional accountability within non-profit and corporate interpretation structures.