Meet Noah Seback | Nonspeaking Autistic Lived Experience Expert & Peer Support Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Noah Seback and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noah, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m an Atlanta native by way of Decatur and now Roswell/Mountain Park. Moving from Intown to the suburbs was pivotal in bringing me to who and where I am today in life. I am and always have been a nonspeaking autistic which means that speech is not my primary means of communication. The words that come out of my mouth aren’t intelligible or reliable most of the time. So this also means I was believed to be a low functioning, the lights are on but no one’s home, profoundly nonproductive member of society. I couldn’t prove any differently.  The way my brain is wired makes it very difficult for my body and muscles to respond in the right way. So I was treated like a toddler until I was 16. It’s exponentially beyond frustrating and depressing to be trapped in your own body and misunderstood, no hope for a real life and future. After being plucked from all that made my life bearable in Decatur for better school opportunities (that didn’t exist) in North Fulton, my emotions and adolescent body-already difficult to control-REALLY freaked out. In the burbs I was labeled the worst of the worst behavior problem and was isolated, restrained, manhandled, medicated accordingly. Then I was introduced to a method of pointing to one letter at a time on a letterboard with my index finger to form words, sentences, and paragraphs, shocking those who knew me: I was actually in there! I could eventually speak to the misperception about my body’s “behavior”. Learning to control my body to spell in this way and to remain emotionally regulated was a long, grueling, painful process. But I now have a voice and through my business and advocacy, a way to help other nonspeakers impacted by similar trauma. I’m a lived experience expert. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve got a mentoring/consulting business called qUirk. I partner with other nonspeakers and their families to help navigate the complicated, confusing and difficult, often traumatic nonspeaking journey.  I’m able to provide empathy and encouragement as well as guidance and practical strategies from a neurodiverse perspective. I have lived it so I get it in a way that no neurotypical can, no matter their training or expertise.  I’m deeply gratified and proud to be a part of journeys easing, lives changing and relationships improving. I’m also thrilled that the concept of trauma in nonspeakers is gaining awareness and traction. More and more of my fellow nonspeakers are gaining access to the emotional healing they desperately need. As I myself was healing, this was my dream. I credit making the business a reality to my incredibly supportive parents and to the Atlanta based non profit Synergies Work through participation in their Ideas to Incubation (i2i) program.  It supports disabled entrepreneurs to get a business off the ground. Moving through life as a nonspeaking autistic requires support and teamwork. I have to be able to outsource things that I physically can’t do but can cognitively direct. Interdependence. This is taken to a whole new level in a business venture. I have learned even more patience and to let go more of perfection, that building a brand is an incremental process requiring constant nurturing and refining. However, the brand is infinitely less important than the individuals I help. A strong brand means I can lift more nonspeakers. Slow and steady wins the race. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For me and my friends just being together in person is a real treat. We would probably do some cool hikes in North Georgia in and around the metro area. We’d also check out the MLK historic sight and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights at Centennial Park.  Food and beverage options would likely need to be gluten and dairy free so any restaurants that can accommodate that and be open to a little extra noise and movement from their patrons will work. The weather, energy and people here are generally positive, but there’s always a ways to go in public with others accepting our differences.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate this to my Mom & Dad and the God we serve.

Website: https://quirkthrives.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quirkthriveswithnoah/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560527166140

Other: Blog site: thisismenoah.com