Earlier this year, a special session Magicana's My Magic Hands at Bloorview Kids Rehab was the subject of a study, The Superman Theory: Exploring the Experiences of Children with Disabilities Performing Magic. The principal investigator was Ellison Bautista-Chan (student occupational therapist at the University of Toronto) who was supported by Patty Rigby (Research Supervisor) and Salma Kassam (Occupational Therapist). Findings showed that eight major themes relating to identity, transformation and meaningful occupation emerged.

Researchers interviewed participants, parents, volunteers, therapists and magicians involved following a speical six-week magic course. Participants were all inpatients, outpatients or daypatients at the center which helps children faced with a broad range of challenges. The study confirmed what we already intuitively suspected: magic had a tremendous impact on the progress of their clients from improved fine motor skills to increased memory and speech.

Previous studies have also shown measurable increases in participant self-esteem and self-confidence. One in particular, by Dr. Dan Ezell, M.A.G.I.C. W.O.R.K.S. (Motivating Activities Geared-to Instilling Confidence Wonderful Opportunities to Raise Kids' Self-Esteem) from 2003, was cited frequently by Ellison Bautista-Chan as it, too, focused on the study of how magic tricks increased self-esteem and self-confidence of children with disabilities. Dr. Dan Ezell (University of Central Florida - Brevard Campus) has graciously given us his kind permission to make this article available for you to read (in .pdf form).

M.A.G.I .C. W.O.R.K.S (Motivating Activities Geared-to Instilling Confidence-Wonderful Opportunities to Raise Kid's Self-Esteem) By Dan Ezell and Colleen E. Klein-Ezell University of Central Florida-Brevard Campus

Similarly, other scientific studies focusing on magic found interesting results. Read the stories here:

It may be science blasphemy, but magic can boost children's self esteem. September 11, 2008 Read .pdf version		Magic "boosts pupils' confidence" September 12, 2008 Read .pdf version
Harry Potter-style magic lessons 'should be taught in schools' September 11, 2008 Read .pdf version

Magic has also been under recent study by a team of brain scientists and magicians ("The Great Tomsni" aka Johnny Thompson, Mac King, Teller and James Randi) to see how the "brain constructs a model of the outside world from moment to moment, or what we think of as objective reality." A paper published in the journal of Nature Reviews Neuroscience explores magic as a possible research tool in the area of perception. Read more here:

Attention and awareness in stage magic: turning tricks into research Read the .pdf version		While a Magician Works, the Mind Does the Tricks August 12, 2008 Read the .pdf version

Magic Hands was featured as an Ontario Trillium Foundation grantee making a difference in Ontario's Arts & Culture community. Read the story.