Halloween can be bittersweet for children with disabilities, often sidelining them while their peers revel in festive fun. But what if every child could share in the magic? Magic Wheelchair is making this possible by transforming wheelchairs into epic costumes, ensuring every child can fully enjoy the holiday.
In 2017, during Maker Faire—a global celebration of invention and hands-on learning—Chinloo Lama, an engineer and user experience designer at SOLIDWORKS, discovered Magic Wheelchair. This nonprofit crafts incredible costumes for kids in wheelchairs, all at no cost to families. “I fell in love instantly,” Chinloo recalls. Inspired, she proposed a collaboration to six colleagues, who responded with enthusiasm.
Fast forward to 2024, and the SOLIDWORKS Build Team has been creating costumes with Magic Wheelchair for the past seven years, crafting five incredible designs at our Waltham, Massachusetts headquarters. The Magic Wheelchair project is proudly accelerated by the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab and supported by La Fondation Dassault Systèmes. From a monster truck for Jonah, to a motorcycle for Ben, a castle for Freyja, and even the NBC’s The Voice chair for Savannah, the SOLIDWORKS Build Team demonstrated the ability to bring any child’s dreams to life.
This year, 9-year-old dinosaur enthusiast Adrian was the centerpiece of the costume build. Adrian is challenged with muscular atrophy type 2, but still has the energy of a superstar. The team had long hoped to tackle a transforming costume, and Adrian’s request for a transforming pterodactyl dinosaur provided the perfect opportunity. (You can learn more about Adrian here!)
It promised to be their most complex project yet, but they were committed to making Adrian’s day unforgettable. “The kid is the boss, and we will do everything we can to make their dreams come true,” said Sal Lama, director of product definition at SOLIDWORKS.
These builds typically require about six weeks of intensive weekend and evening work, as the team dedicates itself to achieving the perfect costume. This year, they aimed to create a complex design in which elements moved or transformed at the push of a button.
Adrian’s pterodactyl costume featured impressive wings, a beak, and his favorite colors. The design was interactive, allowing Adrian to pull a handle to lift the beak, while a simple button press would raise the wings and arms, Sal explained.
After such an intricate build, the reveal was truly magical. Chinloo explained how when Adrian first saw this costume, he went speechless … and Adrian was not the type of kid who goes speechless. They put the costume on him for the first time, and he said, “I’m so excited!”
“On the day of the reveal, and when he got in it, it was very clear that he would not come out of that thing. He was happy to be in the costume for the rest of his life,” Chinloo said.“We even had to convince him it was time to come out, so we could make sure it was ready for the parade.”
Adrian proudly showcased his transforming dinosaur costume through the cobblestone streets of Salem, Massachusetts, as the grand marshal of the 2024 Haunted Happenings parade. “I’m just positive. I’m just excited. Everyone wants to be around me,” Adrian told NBC10 Boston.
Creating such a magical day involves meticulous planning, from securing necessary permissions and managing noise and crowd levels to storing, transporting and assembling the costume. Every detail is orchestrated to perfection.
The SOLIDWORKS Build Team dedicates considerable time and effort to these costumes, receiving a gratifying emotional reward in return. “The kids’ strength and resilience fuel us. But it’s the families, who bend over backward to make sure it’s the best day of their lives, that truly drive us,” Chinloo expressed.
Looking ahead, SOLIDWORKS and Magic Wheelchair have ambitious goals for future collaborations, continuing to innovate and inspire.
Sal and Chinloo Lama discussed how they have two goals with the nonprofit for the future. The first goal is to grow the number of people who participate at Dassault Systèmes. Whether that be more hands on one build, or building multiple builds. He wants others to know they have the opportunity to participate, and to get the chance to feel the rewarding feelings every time they build.
Their second goal is helping Magic Wheelchair raise awareness about the organization, because there are a ton of kids just waiting for their costume. “There is only so much we can do as individuals, but if we can help build awareness and inspire other people to make them, then we are doing our job,” Sal said.
Furthemore, Chinloo expressed hope about serving an older audience, making sure that those who age out of many support programs around age 18 are not forgotten. “We want to make sure they’re loved as much as the kids are,” she explained.
The Magic Wheelchair Organization has served hundreds of children with disabilities and has a growing list of requests! You can give the gift of MAGIC today by donating on their website, applying for a costume, or volunteering! Join us in this inspiring journey to ensure that everyone, regardless of age or ability, can have their dream costume and experience the thrill of belonging and celebration.
Ellie Sidel is an Intern on the Corporate Communications Team here at Dassault Systèmes. She is currently a Senior at Boston University studying Public Relations and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.