Special needs · Cerebral palsy

Lessons that fit the way each student moves and communicates

Pencil Spaces helps students with cerebral palsy learn online, with touch, keyboard or stylus input, typed and pointed answers, clear video and lessons paced around fatigue.

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Area

Physical and medical needs

Who it helps

Students with cerebral palsy, therapists, specialist tutors, special schools and families

What lessons need

Flexible input, communication support, time, rest, support for vision and hearing

In Pencil Spaces

7 features available today, 1 coming soon

Part of

Special needs, need by need

What do students with cerebral palsy need from an online lesson?

Cerebral palsy affects movement and posture, and it’s different for everyone. Some students also have speech, vision, hearing or learning needs, and many tire easily. Online lessons work when they adapt to all of that.

Input that fitsPen & Touch · AvailableTouch, stylus, mouse and keyboard all work, so students use what their body manages best.
Big tools, fewer choicesChild Mode · AvailableChild Mode leaves five big tools and hides the rest, so there are fewer small targets to hit, at any age.
Grip and positioning in viewDocument Camera · AvailableA second camera on the desk shows how the student holds a pen or uses a switch, so you can coach grip and positioning live.
Keyboard shortcutsKeyboard Shortcuts · AvailableMore than 30 keyboard shortcuts cover tools, cursors and locking items, so less depends on precise mouse control.
Answers without handwritingText · AvailableTyped text goes anywhere on the board and stays editable, so nobody has to handwrite to take part.
Time made visibleSession Timer · AvailableA visible countdown helps plan rest and pacing, with extra minutes when a task takes longer.
Choices to point toImages & Video · AvailablePictures on the board give students who find speech hard something to point to and choose.
Speak to writeDictation · Coming soonDictation will let a student speak an answer and see it appear as text on the board.

The features behind it

Why can online lessons be hard for students with cerebral palsy?

Online lessons often assume quick, precise movements and fast spoken answers. For a student with cerebral palsy, both can take a lot of effort.

Fatigue builds across a lesson. A student who could answer easily at the start may struggle by the end.

What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?

A student joins from a laptop with a large trackball. The tutor locks the worksheet and puts three picture choices on the board for each question.

The student moves to the right picture and clicks. Halfway through, they take a planned break, then finish with the easier task.

How do therapists use Pencil Spaces with students with cerebral palsy?

Occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists often work with the same student, sometimes in the same Space. A second camera shows grip, switch use or the student’s AAC device, so the therapist can coach positioning live.

Caregivers and aides can join to help with setup and learn each strategy. The Session Timer keeps therapy within the student’s energy, and the Space keeps every activity for next time.

Tips for teaching students with cerebral palsy online

Learn how the student communicates and moves, from them and their family.
Give extra time for every response.
Plan rest breaks and shorter tasks.
Offer choices to point to, as well as open questions.
Work with the student’s therapists on seating, devices and goals.

Good to know

If a student uses switch access, eye gaze or an AAC device, try Pencil Spaces with their setup first. Dictation is coming soon.

Questions people ask

Can students with cerebral palsy use Pencil Spaces?

Yes. Students use touch, a stylus, a mouse or trackball, or the keyboard, and can answer by typing, choosing a picture or speaking. Teachers adapt the pace and tasks around each student.

Does Pencil Spaces work with eye gaze or switch access?

Results for eye gaze and switch access haven’t been published. Pencil Spaces has been audited against WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA using a keyboard and NVDA. Try it with the student’s setup first and tell us what gets in the way.

Can lessons be shorter or include breaks?

Yes. The teacher sets the lesson length, and the Session Timer shows a visible countdown. The Space keeps all the work, so a lesson can stop for rest and pick up next time.

Can a student with speech difficulties take part?

Yes. Students can answer in chat, on the board, by choosing pictures or with their own AAC system shown on camera. The teacher builds choices into each activity.