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Guide

How I use the Apple Pencil with low vision

How I use the Apple Pencil in the classroom, workplace and as a blogger.

I started using the Apple Pencil 2 with an 11-inch iPad Air a few years ago after one of my other friends told me how often they use the Apple Pencil with low vision accessibility settings. While I was excited about the options for low vision access, I was skeptical about whether or not I would be able to use the Apple Pencil with dysgraphia and made sure to check the return policy (as well as make sure that I was ordering an Apple Pencil that would be compatible with my iPad).

Long story short, I ended up loving my Apple Pencil, and I use it every day. Here is an updated list of ways that I use the Apple Pencil in college, in the classroom, in the workplace, and beyond as a graduate student with low vision and dysgraphia.

What makes Apple Pencil different from other styluses?

One of the main reasons why I was so hesitant to try the Apple Pencil was because I had tried other styluses with iPad before that I didn’t like at all— they felt too big/clunky in my hand, they were not convenient to store, or they were challenging to write with. Alternatively, I noticed that the tip of the styluses were often too big for me to use effectively, and I would end up accidentally selecting items or drawing lines in different places on my screen.

The Apple Pencil eliminates all of these issues, as the slim stylus can be attached via magnetic connector to the top of my iPad, and it also fits in my hand a lot more comfortably. This is super important for me as someone with fine motor issues, though some of the other students I’ve worked with prefer to add an additional grip to the end of the stylus to help with making it easier to grasp.

One important thing to note: the Apple Pencil is not compatible with iPhone, Android devices, or any device that isn’t an iPad. However, there are third-party cases available for iPhone and Android phones that offer an optional stylus.

How to connect Apple Pencil to iPad

Apple Pencil (2nd generation) uses Bluetooth, and will automatically connect to the iPad as long as Bluetooth is turned on and airplane mode is turned off. There is no need to charge the Apple Pencil with a separate cable— it will charge with the iPad if it is attached to the magnetic connector next to the volume keys on the iPad. The first-generation Apple Pencil has a different way of charging, connecting into into the lightning port of the iPad device for 15-30 minutes.

How I use Apple Pencil with dysgraphia

I have dysgraphia, which is characterized by messy, distorted handwriting that can also be filled with spelling errors— I describe it personally as a disconnect between what my brain wants to write and what my hands actually write. That said, my handwriting is much neater when writing on an iPad with Apple Pencil compared to writing on paper with an actual pencil because of the following:

When it comes to writing on an iPad using Apple Pencil with dysgraphia, I can either use the Markup tool or a similar application to write out handwritten text, or use the built-in free Scribble tool to convert my handwriting to typed text with a high level of accuracy— this is helpful for when I want to write something out by hand and display it in large print later on. I also find it much easier to write in cursive with Apple Pencil, though this does not work with Scribble.

Taking tests and quizzes with Apple Pencil for school

I have an approved disability accommodation to receive tests and quizzes in digital formats, so that I can use pinch-to-zoom or enlarge the text on my own.

My online math professors required students to write out scratch work and write directly on exams and quizzes, so I would use the Apple Pencil to show my work for math and work through different steps of a problem. Something that helped me tremendously was having the option to change the ink color almost instantly when writing in Markup or Notability, so I could use color-coding to label exponents and variables (no more confusing X and Y).

To help with writing in a straight line and not having lines of math run into each other, I would use a digital ruler to draw lines between sections.

Annotating pictures and documents with Apple Pencil

When I’m working on design mockups or labeling items in an image, I find it helpful to draw on top of images using Markup and Apple Pencil, which is much neater and faster than drawing with my finger. I’ve also used Apple Pencil to complete class assignments where I use color-coding to label sections, or when circling answers on a multiple choice assignment.

Another helpful way I’ve used Apple Pencil is for drawing on top of images to create audio narrated images using another application. I can also send an annotated image to someone and attach a detailed text description or audio message to draw attention to a specific area.

Using Apple Pencil for large print puzzles

I have an entire post about how to make puzzles like word searches and mazes accessible for low vision, and have noticed that many of the students/clients I’ve worked with find it easy to use the Apple Pencil to interact with their favorite games if using a traditional pen and paper is not an option. Instead of using a magnifying glass or other magnifying tool, digital puzzles provide an option for pinch-to-zoom or mirroring the screen to a larger display.

Apple Pencil for digital art

I’m still learning how to create awesome digital art like the masterpieces that my other friends with low vision design in Procreate, but I still use the Apple Pencil for editing images and creating digital collages. Since I’m still learning, my current favorite features of the Apple Pencil for digital art are the quick shortcuts to erase and undo errors, but I also use it for rearranging elements, drawing geometric shapes and straight lines, and shading in different areas with the help of pinch-to-zoom. 

Four ways I use Apple Pencil in four different environments

Wondering how I personally use Apple Pencil with low vision and dysgraphia? Here are four ways I have personally used Apple Pencil in four different contexts in the last four days:

Apple Pencil for writing/blogging

Apple Pencil for online classes

Apple Pencil for research projects (PhD student)

Apple Pencil for “real world” tasks

More resources on how I use Apple Pencil with low vision


This post on using Apple Pencil with low vision is written by Veronica Lewis, M.Ed. and reposted with permission from Veronica With Four Eyes.

Published September 2021. Updated June 2025

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