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Instability Board

The Instability Board is a simple device designed to help students with multiple impairments begin to roll over without the physical assistance of others. A student is placed on the board either in the prone or supine positions. The board is set in ‘neutral’, so that movement by the student to the left or right causes the board to tip to that side. The student is then rolled off of the board and onto the floor, the surface of which is covered by a pad, mat or blanket.

Students who have used the Instability Board have been seen to thrust an arm across the body in order to raise that shoulder and initiate the roll. A variety of different leg movements have also been used to start the roll. The adult-free roll has been motivating to the students who have used the Instability Board, even though the movement is fairly sudden. Completing the roll requires the student not be blocked by the arm that first makes contact with the ground. Some of the students have adapted to this by drawing that arm close to the body and done so without physical prompting.

The downside to the Instability Board is that it is a one way motion—down and off the board. The students who are appropriate for the Instability Board can’t then roll back the other way once they’ve rolled off the board. It is, however, a way to encourage independent movement.

The Instability Board is as long as it is (24”) so that most (or all) of the student can rest atop it. Were the student placed on just the wobble board it is likely that the student would be unable to roll as the legs, arms, and part of the torso not on the small wobble board would impede rolling.

Educators:  Please feel free to construct and use this device at your discretion. However, NMSBVI assumes no liability regarding this innovation or its use/misuse.

For additional information, please contact the inventor, Ron Later, at rlater@nmsbvi.k12.nm.us
 

Features & Usage:
	Shown here: The teacher places the student on the Instability Board. Note that the board is covered with a soft blanket. The exposed portion is generally covered as well but was left visible for the purpose of this picture series. The Instability Board is in ‘neutral’. Because the wobble board underneath is positioned closer to one end of the board than the other, the Instability Board tips one end up until it the student rolls.
	The student places a hand on the ground either to steady himself or initiate a push. In the background another student is in the Tall(er) Room in a Rifton chair.
	The teacher shows the student how it feels when the Instability Board tips to his right.
	The teacher uses a toy the student is known to like (bells in a tube that make a lot of noise when shaken) to draw the student’s attention to his left side.
	The tipping of the board enables the student to begin the process of rolling to his left.
	After the Instability Board has tipped to the student’s right, the teacher uses an item of interest to attempt to get the student to turn and shift his weight back to his left side.
	The student begins the roll to his left side.
	The motion of the Instability Board, caused by the initial move to the left by the student, helps the student get to the point of rolling over.
	And he’s off the board, having moved from supine (on the Instability Board) to prone (on the floor) without physical assistance.
	The student, after being repositioned supine in ‘neutral’, begins another roll to the left. Staff is present and monitoring the student but allow him to experience the movement he started on his own.
	Initially stopped in his roll by the placement of his left arm, the student swings his right arm to generate more momentum to complete the roll.
	And over he goes.
Construction Technique:

The Instability Board is ridiculously easy to create. A ¾”x15”x24” piece of plywood is sanded and beveled so there are no sharp corners. A wobble board, found at any number of fitness stores, is then locked into place on the underside of the plywood. While the wobble board could be attached directly to the piece of plywood, this particular board features 4 wooden blocks that keep the wobble board from sliding. With the Instability Board atop the wobble board, gravity and the 4 wooden blocks hold the wobble board in place.

	The Instability Board relies on a wobble board for motion. Wobble boards like this circular one are available at fitness stores and generally cost between $25-$50.
	The Instability Board itself is just a piece of plywood (15”x24” in this case) with a method for holding the wobble board in place. While the wobble board could have been permanently attached to the Instability Board, in this case 4 pieces of scrap wood were screwed to the Instability Board. The 4 blocks keep the wobble board from sliding. Note that the blocks are not centered but instead dictate the placement of the wobble board towards one end of the Instability Board.
	The wobble board is placed inside of the four blocks on the Instability Board. The blocks ensure the wobble board won’t slide and gravity keeps the Instability Board from becoming separated.

	With the wobble board in place the Instability Board is tipped to the maximum degree possible. Note how there is no separation between the wobble board and Instability Board. This is both secure and allows the wobble board to be removed, perhaps to be used in another way.

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