Project Magic is a program, designed by David Copperfield, where teams of

magician Magician or The Magician may refer to: Performers * A practitioner of magic (supernatural) * A practitioner of magic (illusion) * Magician (fantasy), a character in a fictional fantasy context Entertainment Books * ''The Magician'', an 18th-ce ...

s and occupational therapists work together to teach

sleight of hand Sleight of hand (also known as prestidigitation or ''legerdemain'' ()) refers to fine motor skills when used by performing artists in different art forms to entertain or manipulate. It is closely associated with close-up magic, card magic, card ...

to people with disabilities to aid in their

rehabilitation Rehabilitation or Rehab may refer to: Health * Rehabilitation (neuropsychology), therapy to regain or improve neurocognitive function that has been lost or diminished * Rehabilitation (wildlife), treatment of injured wildlife so they can be retur ...

and help the patients build

self-esteem Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth or abilities. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am loved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame. Smith and Mackie (2007) d ...

.{{cite news , last1=Pascoe , first1=Byron , last2=Telner , first2=Paul , title=David Copperfield uses magic to help the disabled , url=https://thecjn.ca/news/david-copperfield-uses-magic-help-disabled , access-date=1 February 2024 , work=Canadian Jewish News , date=19 March 2008 The tricks taught in Project Magic were designed to help improve dexterity,

coordination Coordination may refer to: * Coordination (linguistics), a compound grammatical construction * Coordination complex, consisting of a central atom or ion and a surrounding array of bound molecules or ions * Coordination number or ligancy of a centr ...

, visual perception, spatial relationships, and cognitive skills, with specific magic tricks developed for varying disabilities.

Origin

When David Copperfield received a press clipping in a letter from a magician he had been corresponding with, he was surprised to learn from the photograph that the young man was in a wheelchair. "His self-image did not have a disability," said Copperfield. This led Copperfield to wonder if magic could help to recover patients and gain self-confidence. In February 1982, Copperfield brought his idea to the Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in

Inglewood, California Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 107,762. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. The city is in the South Bay ...

, which was recognized by the National Association of Rehabilitation Facilities as the "outstanding rehabilitation center of 1981". Copperfield began collaborating with Julie DeJean, the hospital's director of occupational therapy, to develop tricks that could be applied to treat various disabilities. The participants also gained self-confidence by being able to do things that others could not.

Structure

Teams of

s and occupational therapists work together to teach

to people with disabilities to aid in their

. The occupational therapists using Project Magic work in teams with local volunteer magicians. The magician first teaches the illusions to the therapists, then together, they instruct the patients on how to perform the illusions. The therapist then helps the patients to master the techniques involved during the following week. After a week, the magicians return and give on how to polish up the trick by using other techniques such as misdirection and the proper stage presence. The tricks taught in Project Magic were designed to help improve dexterity,

, visual perception, spatial relationships, and cognitive skills. There are specific magic tricks developed for varying disabilities. It also helps build self-esteem.Fisher, Deborah M., and Fisher, Cody S. (2007): 'Rehabracadabra', ''ADVANCE for Occupational Therapy Practitioners'' 23(15), volume 23, 15–18.

External links

Project Magic

References

Medical and health organizations based in California American magicians Occupational therapy