Special needs · Acquired brain injury (ABI)

A gentle way back to learning after a brain injury

Pencil Spaces supports students returning to learning after a brain injury or concussion, with short lessons, a calm screen, memory aids and a steady routine.

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Area

Physical and medical needs

Who it helps

Students recovering from an acquired brain injury or concussion, rehabilitation teams, medical tuition services, tutors and families

What lessons need

Short, paced lessons, rest, memory support, a calm screen, routine

In Pencil Spaces

7 features available today

Part of

Special needs, need by need

What do students recovering from a brain injury need from an online lesson?

An acquired brain injury, from an accident, an illness or a concussion, can change memory, attention, processing, energy and tolerance of light and sound. Returning to learning usually starts small and builds up gradually, guided by the medical team.

Short lessons, visible timeSession Timer · AvailableA visible countdown keeps lessons short, and extra minutes are easy to add when the student is ready.
A calm screenChild Mode · AvailableDespite the name, Child Mode suits any age: it strips the toolbar to five tools and hides chat, boards and apps.
Memory aids after every lessonLesson Summaries · AvailableAn automatic recap of each lesson, with action items, comes in versions for the student, the parent and the tutor.
Nothing to remember to bringPersistent Spaces · AvailableEvery board, note and drawing stays in the Space between lessons, so each lesson picks up where the last one ended.
Clear soundNoise Cancellation · AvailableAI noise cancellation and echo reduction filter out background sound, so voices come through and the room doesn’t.
Softer colorsBoard Backgrounds · AvailableSofter paper colors cut the glare for students sensitive to light.
Review at their paceSession Recording · AvailableLessons are recorded to the cloud, so students can watch them again in Pencil Spaces and pause or rewind as they need.

The features behind it

Why can online lessons be hard for students recovering from a brain injury?

After a brain injury, screens can be tiring, and noise and light hard to tolerate. A full-length online lesson can bring on headaches or exhaustion.

Memory and processing changes mean that what was easy before may now take much longer. That can be frightening for the student and the family.

What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?

Six weeks after a concussion, a student starts with twenty-minute lessons. The board is a soft color and holds one task at a time.

The tutor recaps the last lesson using its summary. When the timer ends, they stop, even mid-task, and pick it up next time.

Tips for teaching students recovering from a brain injury online

Follow the medical team’s return-to-learn plan, and build up slowly.
Keep lessons short, with breaks, and stop before fatigue sets in.
Reduce screen brightness, noise and clutter.
Recap often, and keep written notes of each lesson.
Expect good and bad days, and adjust without fuss.

Good to know

Pencil Spaces doesn’t assess recovery or give medical advice. Pace lessons on the advice of the student’s medical team.

Questions people ask

Can students learn online after a brain injury?

Often, yes, when lessons start short and build up slowly on medical advice. Pencil Spaces lets tutors keep lessons brief, the screen calm and the routine steady, with summaries and recordings to support memory.

How long should lessons be after a concussion?

That depends on the student and their medical team’s return-to-learn plan. Many start with short lessons and build up. In Pencil Spaces, the Session Timer shows a visible countdown, and the Space keeps work for next time.

How can teachers support memory after a brain injury?

Keep everything visible and recorded. Boards stay in the Space, lesson summaries list what was covered and what to practice, and Ask Me Anything searches recorded lessons for a topic.

Can the screen be made easier on the eyes?

Yes. Board Backgrounds change the paper color to something softer than bright white, and Move & Zoom enlarges what’s on the board. Many students also lower their device’s brightness.