Effect for Special Needs or Handicapped Children

[RickEverhart]

I have tried many effects for some of the special needs children in our building but many things are too hard for them to follow, even keeping track of what is going on such as sponge balls, however today I was just messing around with a "Stained Tattoo" from E that I found in my desk drawer. I went to the men's room and applied it hoping that this would provide some magic for someone....anyone... today.

Sure enough a child who has downs syndrome was in the hall outside my door, waving to me and saying hi like he does from time to time. Perfect I thought. I will test it out so I forced the queen of spades on him and had him hold the card in his hand without putting it back in the deck otherwise it would have been forgotten....I slowly rolled up my dress shirt sleeve and revealed the queen of spades tattoo on my forearm. I had him hold his queen of spades card up to my arm so he could visually compare the two picture / face cards and he screamed and yelled.....Noooooooo....nooooo way. His smile was priceless.

I urge some of you who do not perform live or only do it for youtube to get out there in the real world and share your talent. You are missing out on some powerful events that will create memories.

 

[chriswiehl]

great story. i had a show once with a kid who was handicapped. and i had him come up and just help with a trick. he might have not understood it, but he got to wear the top hat and wave a wand. he had a blast and his mom was sooo happy.
but with magic
maybe, something more visual. like something with an appearing cane haha.
thats very visual. or something like a color changing something. like rope to silk.

 

[RickEverhart]

That's great Chris. I agree...you need very visual effects for these types of young children. I think appearing cane and rope to silk would be outstanding but I am just thinking of little things that fit into my pants pocket as I am walking in the hallway at school.

I may need to buy some loops over X-mas to levitate some small items for these children. I think they would understand that as well. Plus I can just wear them while I teach and always have them ready.

 

[chriswiehl]

appearing cane fits in your pocket, no problem. my friend has a nice metal one. he changes a silk into the cane

maybe do hummer card. but thats kinda a hastle to carry around.

what about raven?
im just throwin out ideas. but thats what i would do.

 

[DannyT]

Actually, a thumb tip and small silk would be perfect.
Easy, visual, and fits right in your pocket.
Good thread.

 

[MattTarrant]

I performed at a Special Needs/Disadvantaged Kids event last year, and all the kids loved all levitations (Humming Bird, Spun etc) and loved 'Bruised' which is similar to stained skin.

Great effects which are visual will always work!

Great thread

 

[Mr.MadMan]

I have tried many effects for some of the special needs children in our building but many things are too hard for them to follow, even keeping track of what is going on such as sponge balls, however today I was just messing around with a "Stained Tattoo" from E that I found in my desk drawer. I went to the men's room and applied it hoping that this would provide some magic for someone....anyone... today.

Sure enough a child who has downs syndrome was in the hall outside my door, waving to me and saying hi like he does from time to time. Perfect I thought. I will test it out so I forced the queen of spades on him and had him hold the card in his hand without putting it back in the deck otherwise it would have been forgotten....I slowly rolled up my dress shirt sleeve and revealed the queen of spades tattoo on my forearm. I had him hold his queen of spades card up to my arm so he could visually compare the two picture / face cards and he screamed and yelled.....Noooooooo....nooooo way. His smile was priceless.

I urge some of you who do not perform live or only do it for youtube to get out there in the real world and share your talent. You are missing out on some powerful events that will create memories.

I love children smiling. I am an uncle to three little kids and every time they smile they make my day.
I have performed to a group of handicapped children, i did a sponge ball routine(let it be said that the kid had a deformed hand, he had 3 1/2 fingers on both hands, i was sad to see that a 8 year old has to live like that, makes me want to give my hands away). I did my routine and when the finally of the two balls in the hand happened the whole place fell down, it was awesome to see everyone smile and clap of astonishment. Shortly after that my shift ended so i got my money, and i almost wanted to give it back because the shear happiness i got from those kids made me smile for the rest of the week. It just touched me so much....

Mikk.

 

[Dylan P.]

Reverhart,

As I type this reply I am sitting in my mothers classroom. I didn't have school today but her students did so I came in to entertain them. One student in her class has a very serious form of Autism. Today after performing for small groups of children in the class she called him over and asked me to do what I thought would work for him. I pulled out my sponge balls (2 of them only) then I said :How many do I have?

Counting on his fingers he said, "One...two."

"Very good. I'll hold one. Here you can hold the other." I said to him.

I then made mine dissapear and he smiled and danced around then I told him to open his hand. When both balls fell out of hs hand, he nearly screamed. He had the biggest smile and the whole class clapped for him and he told me something so important: "Someday...when I am old...I wanna be a magic person like you..." Then he leaned in and gave me a huge hug.

Those actions hit me really hard in the heart and I had to go take a walk around the school because I thought I was going to cry. I wish him the best of luck, and hope that he can do anything he wants to do.

Dylan P.

 

[RickEverhart]

Dylan,
That is EXACTLY the feeling I want people on here to get when they perform for someone with special needs. It hits home and you feel so good for that child and the moment and memory you just created. Thank you for sharing that story. I'm so glad I'm not the only who could feel that. Outstanding...I'm proud of you.