Special needs · Visual stress (Meares-Irlen)

Choose the color of the page

Pencil Spaces lets students with visual stress change the board’s paper color, use dyslexia-friendly fonts and zoom in, so reading on screen is more comfortable.

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Share it with your child’s tutor Teaching at home? Try it

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Area

Sensory needs

Who it helps

Students with visual stress, also called Meares-Irlen syndrome, including many dyslexic students, tutors and families

What lessons need

A tinted background, less glare, clear fonts, larger text, less clutter

In Pencil Spaces

6 features available today

Part of

Special needs, need by need

What do students with visual stress need from an online lesson?

Visual stress, sometimes called Meares-Irlen syndrome, makes text seem to blur, move or shimmer, especially black text on bright white. Many students who have it find a colored background or overlay more comfortable.

Any paper colorBoard Backgrounds · AvailableChange the board’s paper color to the tint the student finds most comfortable, and make it the default.
Clearer lettersDyslexia-Friendly Fonts · AvailablePick OpenDyslexic or another dyslexia-friendly font from the font menu on the board, so letters are easier to tell apart.
Bigger textMove & Zoom · AvailableZoom in on text, then jump back to fit everything in view.
Keeping their placeHighlighter · AvailableA see-through highlight on the line being read helps a student keep their place.
Full-screen readingFull-Screen Apps · AvailableApps in the web viewer open full screen, so small text stays readable on any device.
A clean pageLaser Pointer · AvailablePoint at one spot on the board without leaving a mark, so the board stays uncluttered.

The features behind it

Why can online lessons be hard for students with visual stress?

Screens tend to show bright white pages with black text, the combination many students with visual stress find hardest.

In most video lessons, nobody can change the color of what the teacher shares. The student squints through it, gets headaches and reads less.

What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?

The student says pale blue is easiest, so the tutor sets every board to blue paper by default. Text goes on in a dyslexia-friendly font, a little larger than usual.

As they read, the tutor highlights the line they’re on. The student reads to the end of the page without stopping to rub their eyes.

Tips for teaching students with visual stress online

Ask the student which background color is most comfortable, and use it every time.
Avoid black text on bright white where you can.
Keep text large, with generous line spacing.
Break reading into short sections.
Suggest a full eye test if the student hasn’t had one recently.

Good to know

Board Backgrounds change the color of boards. Apps, websites and shared screens keep their own colors.

Questions people ask

Can you change the background color in Pencil Spaces?

Yes. Board Backgrounds change the board’s paper color and can switch it to grid, dot or ruled paper. Set it as the default, and every new board uses the student’s preferred color.

What is visual stress?

Visual stress, also called Meares-Irlen syndrome, is discomfort when reading, often described as text blurring, moving or shimmering. Many people with it find a colored background more comfortable. A full eye test helps rule out other causes.

Does Pencil Spaces have a dyslexia-friendly font?

Yes. OpenDyslexic and other dyslexia-friendly fonts are in the font menu on the board. With a tinted background and larger text, they make reading more comfortable for many students.

Does the color apply to everything on screen?

The background color applies to boards. Apps, websites and shared screens keep their own colors, so many teachers copy key text onto the board for reading activities.