DIFFERENT SEATING OPTIONS FOR

BETTER LEARNING IN SPECIAL NEEDS

SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK

Moving Seats

• These chairs have an exercise ball placed on the seat, or it could be a ball chair or even a wiggle cushion. These less stable surfaces allow for more active learning and hence are used extensively in quite a few special needs schools in New York. • Such seating arrangements let the children move, as and when needed, without

having to disturb the class

Sitting on the Floor

• Problem solving activities or the activities which involve creativity and group effort can yield better results if performed by sitting on the floor. • This is because of the fact that the body muscles get grounded,

producing a calming effect when one sits on the floor.

Standing and Learning

• Special needs schools of New York have students with varied needs- they have students who find it difficult to sit in class. For such students, there are podiums, standing desks and tables to stand on. • Some teachers also use balance boards and wiggle cushions to

engage both the brain and body of the students.

Exercise Bikes

• Some special needs schools of New York employ exercise bikes in class as kids love biking. • Real exercise bikes are seated next to the feet on the floor for the

kids to pedal and learn.

Foot and Hand Fidgets

• Articles like squishy balls and putty and resistance bands tied around the legs of chairs are used as fidgets for hands and feet respectively. These help the students sit longer in class.

Bungee chairs

• Many special needs schools of New York use bungee chairs for their gifted students as these chairs have a bouncy effect.• Apart from these, there are spinning chairs and stools which can also

be used in a classroom for children with special needs.

THANK YOU!