Special needs · Neurodivergent learners

One lesson, adjusted for the way each student thinks

Pencil Spaces helps tutors and schools teach neurodivergent students online, including autistic students and students with ADHD, AuDHD or dyslexia.

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Area

Across every area

Who it helps

Autistic students, students with ADHD, AuDHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or Tourette syndrome, specialist tutors, schools and families

Also called

Neurodivergence · neurodiversity · neurodiverse · AuDHD (autistic with ADHD)

What lessons need

Predictability, choice, less clutter, visible time, more than one way to answer

In Pencil Spaces

7 features available today

Part of

Special needs, need by need

What do neurodivergent students need from an online lesson?

Neurodivergent students aren’t one group with one need. Most do better when the lesson is predictable, the screen is calm and there’s more than one way to take part.

The same place every weekPersistent Spaces · AvailableEach student’s Space keeps its boards between lessons, so every lesson starts somewhere familiar.
A simpler screenChild Mode · AvailableChild Mode leaves five tools and hides chat, boards and apps. It suits students of any age who want less on screen.
Time they can seeTimers & Polls · AvailableA countdown for each task shows how long is left, which helps students who lose track of time or dread open-ended work.
Answer without speakingChat · AvailableStudents can type an answer in chat or message the teacher privately, and it counts as taking part.
A page that’s easier on the eyesBoard Backgrounds · AvailableSofter paper colors cut glare, and each board can have its own.
Fonts built for readingDyslexia-Friendly Fonts · AvailableSwitch the board’s text to OpenDyslexic or another dyslexia-friendly font.
Catch up in their own timeSession Recording · AvailableLessons are recorded to the cloud, so a student can rewatch in Pencil Spaces whatever they missed while regrouping.

The features behind it

Why can online lessons be hard for neurodivergent students?

Most video lessons assume one way of paying attention: sit still, watch, listen and answer out loud. Many neurodivergent students do their best thinking another way.

Needs also overlap. A student can be autistic and have ADHD, often called AuDHD, and want routine and variety in the same lesson.

What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?

A tutor opens the same Space as last week. The plan for the lesson is typed at the top of the board, and a ten-minute timer is running.

The student answers the first question in chat and the second by drawing. Nobody asks them to turn the camera on.

Tips for teaching neurodivergent students online

Ask the student what helps, and keep a note of it for every lesson.
Keep the routine steady and change the content.
Offer two ways to answer every question.
Clear the board of anything the task doesn’t need.
Plan breaks before they’re needed.

Good to know

Neurodivergent is an umbrella term, not a diagnosis, and no two students need the same lesson. The page for each need goes deeper.

Questions people ask

What does neurodivergent mean?

Neurodivergent describes people whose brains work differently from what’s typical. It’s often used for autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette syndrome. It isn’t a medical diagnosis, and people use it in different ways, so ask each student and family which words they prefer.

What is AuDHD?

AuDHD is an informal term for being autistic and having ADHD. Students often need predictability and variety at once. In Pencil Spaces, the Space and the routine stay the same each week, while timers and short tasks keep the pace moving.

Is online tutoring good for neurodivergent students?

It can be. Learning from home removes travel, noise and a busy room, and the student controls more of their setting. Pencil Spaces adds the same Space each week, a simpler screen in Child Mode and ways to answer by typing or drawing.

Can one tutor adjust lessons for different students?

Yes. Each student has their own Space, and its boards keep the paper color, fonts and materials the tutor set up. The next lesson opens the way the last one ended.