'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism

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Ball chairs are another item that is gaining popularity in classrooms (as well as workplaces) across the United States and elsewhere. While swapping a regular chair for a cushy ball is all about improving learning, the colourful classroom-designed ball chairs are also a fun, refreshing change for students.

Lisa Witt, through her Wisconsin-based company, WittFitt LLC, has been a key person in efforts to promote and integrate the stability ball into the classroom and school environment. One major advantage that ball chairs have over regular chairs is that they force the person sitting on them to engage in ‘active sitting’, thereby strengthening their core muscles…

…Active sitting refers to sitting on a surface that is constantly able to move. These surfaces include special devices like sitting discs or exercise balls. Unlike a standard chair, these surfaces force your body into an ergonomic position that leads to better posture, circulation, and productivity…

Indeed, not only is ‘active sitting’ beneficial to core strengthening, but it can improve concentration levels…

…“Ball chairs are very good for children who need to move a lot,” says Kay … a retired elementary school teacher from [Colorado.] [Kay] had such success in her classroom using a ball chair for one special needs child that she pushed for and was awarded a district grant to get ball chairs for her entire class. “The chairs were helpful for special needs students in particular, but I also saw a big difference in kids who were just always rocking in their chairs and needed to move.”

When a child sits on a ball chair, they are able to direct their natural kinesthetic energy and need for movement in a positive way, because the child on a ball chair has to constantly move his body on the chair to maintain his balance.

So rather than squash a child’s innate need for movement, ball chairs channel their physical energy in a positive way, allowing them to focus on their work more completely and reach their full potential as learners…

(sources: Why You Should Use an Exercise Ball Chair at Your Desk; Blog)