Special needs · Speech, language and communication needs

Lessons where every word is easier to hear, see and say

Pencil Spaces supports students with speech, language and communication needs, including DLD, with clear audio, visual supports, big faces and recordings to revisit.

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Area

Communication and interaction

Who it helps

Students with SLCN or developmental language disorder (DLD), speech and language therapists, tutors, schools and families

What lessons need

Clear audio, visual supports, simple language, modeling, repetition, time to respond

In Pencil Spaces

7 features available today

Part of

Special needs, need by need

What helps students with speech, language and communication needs in an online lesson?

Speech, language and communication needs cover difficulties with speaking, understanding language and using it socially. Developmental language disorder (DLD) is one of the most common. Online lessons help when language is backed by pictures, faces and clear sound.

Clear soundNoise Cancellation · AvailableAI noise cancellation and echo reduction filter out background sound, so voices come through and the room doesn’t.
Faces you can watchVideo Layouts · AvailableThe single-speaker layout keeps the teacher’s face large, so students can watch mouth shapes and expressions.
Words with picturesImages & Video · AvailableAdd pictures and clips by upload, drag and drop, image search or a webcam photo.
Hear it againSession Recording · AvailableLessons are recorded to the cloud, so students can watch them again in Pencil Spaces and pause or rewind as they need.
Key words that stayText · AvailableType the key words of the lesson on the board, large and plain, so they stay in view.
Time to answerRaise Hand · AvailableA raised hand lets a student signal they have something to say, in their own time, without competing to be heard.
Therapy-style activitiesAnnotate Documents · AvailableBring in picture cards and worksheets as PDFs, then draw and circle on them together.

The features behind it

Why can online lessons be hard for students with speech, language and communication needs?

Video calls strip out much of what helps language: faces are small, sound is compressed and background noise competes with every word.

Fast talk and long spoken instructions leave students with language difficulties behind, often without anyone noticing, because they’ve learned to nod along.

What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?

A speech and language therapist puts four picture cards on the board as a PDF. Her face fills the left of the screen.

She models the sentence, the student repeats it and circles the matching picture with a finger. The board stays for next week’s practice.

How do therapists use Pencil Spaces with students with speech, language and communication needs?

Speech-language pathologists run language therapy in a Space that holds every activity. Picture cards, story maps and vocabulary boards stay put from week to week, so each student’s Space becomes their therapy folder.

In small groups, Place Students on Boards gives each student a task matched to their own goal. Teacher Notes, a private board only the therapist sees, holds the plan and reminders. Attendance can flow to the system your team uses for service records, through the API.

Tips for teaching students with speech, language and communication needs online

Use short sentences, and pause between them.
Pair new words with pictures, gestures and written labels.
Model language rather than correcting it: repeat the student’s idea back, correctly.
Check understanding by asking the student to show you, not just to say yes.
Keep background noise low on your side too.

Good to know

Live captions are coming soon. Until then, chat is the text channel in every lesson, and English-language recordings include a transcript.

Questions people ask

Can speech and language therapy work online?

Yes. Speech and language therapists teach in Pencil Spaces with video beside a shared board for picture cards, worksheets and games. AI noise cancellation keeps speech clear, and the Space keeps every activity for the next lesson.

How does Pencil Spaces help students with DLD?

It backs spoken language with visual support. Teachers keep key words on the board, add pictures to every new idea and keep their face large on screen. Recordings let students hear explanations again.

Can a therapist see the student’s face clearly?

Yes. Video layouts include a single-speaker view with one person full size. Video can also be pinned to the board or popped out, so faces stay visible while you work.

Can families practice between lessons?

Yes. Boards stay in the Space, and lesson summaries include a version for parents with what was covered and what to practice. If lessons are recorded, the student can watch them again in Pencil Spaces.