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Award-winning illusionist teaches a little magic to therapists at John Heinz Rehabilitation Center

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE TWP. -- Kevin Spencer says he knows that magic can make it easier for a patient to recover from injuries.

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Kevin Spencer show therapists at John Heinz a magic trick with a rubber band that they can use with their patients.

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Jean Fredmund, a physical therapist at John Heinz, watches the paper clips fly off a dollar bill while performing a magic trick.

Clark Van Orden photos/The Times Leader

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Therapists looking to incorporate magic into their occupational or physical therapy sessions can get a “Healing of Magic” manual and DVD for $55 by visiting http://www.magictherapy.com.

Tickets for the “Theatre of Illusion” show at the F.M. Kirby Center are still available for tonight’s 7:30 show. Call the Kirby Center box office at 826-1100 to purchase tickets. Prices are $16.50, $26.50 and $29.

Spencer, an award winning illusionist, spent a year receiving rehabilitation after suffering a head and spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle crash nearly 20 years ago.

During the year he was in occupational and physical therapy, he developed the “Healing of Magic” program to be used by therapists to help their patients.

Spencer, who was in the area preparing for a local show, taught a handful of magic tricks to about 15 occupational, physical and speech therapists at Allied Services’ John Heinz Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday morning before performing a magic show for juvenile patients.

“Every trick we taught them has a very defined, specific therapeutic value to it. We are going to be working on defining gross motor skills, cognition, perceptual skills and just make it a lot more fun for the patients,” Spencer said.

The tricks used mostly normal materials that can be found in any office – paper clips and rubber bands. He also did a trick involving a rope that could be done with a jump rope.

Occupational therapist Mark Vukovich said he is looking forward to using these techniques with his patients.

He believes these techniques can be put to use immediately with all patients, whether young or old.

“Adults like to laugh, too, so I think it is great for any age population. Sometimes we forget the human element in therapy, and sometimes it’s good to laugh and break the ice. It helps engage people more in the therapeutic process,” Vukovich said.

Spencer and his wife, Cindy, will perform their Theatre of Illusion show at 7:30 tonight at the F.M. Kirby Center. It’s the second largest illusionist show in America behind David Copperfield, Spencer said.