Ravi* is a kid who, until recently, had a whole lotta hidden talents.

You see, Ravi uses an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to communicate.

Like so many other students (both those who use AAC and those who don’t), Ravi felt like his peers and teachers didn’t get him. Most people thought of him as shy, distant, and not that interested in school. Perhaps even Ravi didn’t realize how much talent he had.

That all changed when Ravi’s school welcomed COMPAS Teaching Artist See More Perspective into his classroom.

See More brought Hip Hop culture into Ravi’s school to start the year off with inspiration and creativity.

And what a difference it made for Ravi.

Now if you’re like me, you might not know a lot about Hip Hop culture. You may be wondering how laying down beats, giving words rhythm, and creating free form images helps students learn and thrive. Let me share a few things See More and Ravi want you to know.

Ravi’s got game… and skills. He knows that now.

Using his AAC device and other tech, Ravi started creating rhythms, melodies, and raps that reflected his joys, frustrations, curiosities, and more. To his delight (and surprise), his fellow students enjoyed his music. They recognized those same feelings. Through music, Ravi and his classmates connected, and he learned he can show up as his authentic self.

Ravi’s confidence grew.

His teachers saw it blossom throughout his time working with See More and beyond. Ravi is feeling more connected at school. He’s been using his AAC device in many settings to connect with others. Staff and students are honoring the authentic ways he shows up. He’s discovered that by using creativity, the world can understand who he is. He can express himself better. And he has valuable ideas to share.

“I’m dope and the world can know it through my art!”

When See More Perspective introduced this attitude of Hip Hop culture, Ravi and his classmates were skeptical. It’s a sad fact that kids with a disability don’t often hear that they are exceptional. That is, that they are dope. As students worked with See More in an environment free from judgement, they started to take creative risks here and there and share more of their authentic selves. Teachers saw a different side of students. As students’ confidence in their creative choices grew, they learned to believe the words, “I’m dope!” And that belief has carried on in other areas of life.

Having a professional teaching artist work with students makes a difference.

Ravi’s teachers are talented. They work hard to integrate music and creativity into students’ learning. But they are the first to say that they are not equipped to teach a topic like Hip Hop. See More, on the other hand, is a Latino artist with a deep understanding of Hip Hop. He brings a new perspective into the classroom that helps students see themselves reflected in the curriculum. Ravi’s teachers also talked about how much they learned from working with an artist and how they will use these new ideas in their classrooms.

Ravi wasn’t the only student who learned that they are dope and the world can know them through their art. At the end of See More’s time, the school held an open mic for students to share their work. One teen who hadn’t planned on sharing anything was so inspired by a friend’s beats that she asked to come to the mic. When she did, she sang these improvised words to her classmate’s beats:

You have to love yourself, 
You have to love yourself,
You have to love yourself,
You have to love everybody!
You have to love yourself.

Now that’s dope.

*Ravi’s name and picture used with permission.

To learn more about AAC, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Interested in bringing a COMPAS program to your school or community site? Get in touch with us here!