Behind the music: the Lynx Project’s young writers

Allison McElroy, Trends Chief|March 13, 2020

The Lynx Project is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that takes poetry written by young people with autism and transforms it into art song, which is poetry set to music for piano and voice. To read more about the Lynx Project, click here. 

 

The writers for the project are all Sycamore students who are nonverbal and communicate using the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM). This is an educational method in which students use a letterboard to spell out words. The writers also used this method to answer the interview questions below.

 

  Darren Stella is a young man who enjoys swimming, riding bikes and horses. He presently is at the TIP (Transition Independence Program) house, in the Sycamore School District in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio. Darren dreams of someday being a journalist and writer, and is working on his first book of poems, thoughts and short stories. Though he has autism and is mostly non-verbal, Darren dreams of inclusion with others and hopes to be a continual learner throughout his life. For more of Darren’s writing, follow him on Instagram at darrendives_ or visit his website darrendives.org. All writer bios and photos courtesy of writer’s parents.

What inspired you to write your poems?

“I was inspired by so many people. One is mom.”

 

Why do you like to write?

“It is a good way to express myself.”

 

How do you feel about getting to hear your words set to music?

“I am proud. Nice to have a method of expression.”

 

How does being able to communicate through your writing make you feel?

“I feel happy.”

 

What is your favorite part about being involved in the Lynx Project?

“I am intelligent, so it is nice to show others things.”

 

 

 

 

Emily Friend is 10 years old and in the [third] grade. Emily has some verbal language, but found her true voice [four] years ago when she began letterboarding to communicate her thoughts, feelings, and preferences. RPM has allowed all those who meet Emily to discover the compassion, intelligence, and perceptiveness that was always inside of her. Emily loves adventure, anything on wheels or in the water. She is incredible at roller skating, ice skating and swimming. She hopes to become a teacher one day and work with children with Autism so they can also find their voice.

What inspired you to write your poems?

“I feel that my poem shows how much I love my family and friends.”

 

Why do you like to write?

“I like to express my feelings because I feel that I change the world with kindness.”

 

How did you feel about getting to hear your words set to music?

“Excited because I can see how far I am coming.”

 

How does being able to communicate through your writing make you feel?

“I love it because I can be myself.”

 

What was your favorite part about being involved in the Lynx Project?

“Hearing a lot of great poems and seeing my family and friends smile.”

 

Why is the Lynx Project important?

“A lot of people who are nonverbal are sometimes treated as if we have nothing to say. Although I need help getting my thoughts and knowledge out they are still mine. One day I hope to live independently with my output. My family is my everything.”

 

 

 

Nina Szabo is [10] years old and attends [third] grade at Blue Ash Elementary. She is a sweet, loving girl with a very unique personality. “I enjoy walks in nature and listening to Zumba music. I can’t talk (and that is hard!), but I communicate what I know by spelling in a letter board. My dream is to become a writer and be an independent individual.”

What inspired you to write your poems?

“With the short ones, it was an assignment. Actually, I wrote them cause I was supposed to make something at home that I could sell and I can only spell.* [For the ‘I Belong’ poem], I was just thinking of my world and say not everything is so bad about me and my lack of verbal speech cause I can express myself.”

 

* Szabo wrote these poems as part of a class project in which she was required to make something she could sell to her classmates.

 

Why do you like to write?

“I love playing with words in my head.”

 

How do you feel about getting to hear your words set to music?

“I feel honored and excited.”

 

How does being able to communicate through your writing make you feel?

“I feel free from my limitations.”

 

 

 

Aarush is a happy, go-lucky guy who works hard to learn and improve every day. He has been working with RPM for over 3 years. Aarush was born in California, but has lived in parts of the US, UK, Holland, and India. He loves listening to all kinds of music, especially Bollywood and Indian Classical Music. He also loves swimming, Taekwando, running, basketball, and skating.

What inspired you to write your poems?

“People, events. I find inspiration in all day to day life.”

 

Why do you like to write?

“That give [sic] me the freedom to express myself.”

 

How do you feel about getting to hear your words set to music?

“I’m really really thankful to Lynx. I’m sure they have given wonderful music to my words. Thankful to my parents and my teachers. Music makes this world a beautiful place.”

 

How does being able to communicate through your writing make you feel?

“I am being heard now. That feeling is out of this world. I am an observer. I play characters in my imagination.”