Mouse and Keyboard Alternatives

     Mouse Alternatives

        Trackball                                                                      Joysticks
                                                 
Students who: Have a great range of motion     Students who: Need to use switches to click
                             Have poor fine motor skills           Need to use with a body part other than hand
Touch Screens                                                              Head-Pointing Systems                                                    
Students who: Need to learn cause & effect                Students who: Cannot use hands
                             Need a direct, intuitive interface                                Have excellent head control

Eye-Gaze System

Students who: Cannot use hands or head
                             Can control eye movements & keep head completely still

Alternative Keyboards

Expanded Keyboards                                            Mini Keyboards

                     

Students who: Have poor fine motor control                 Students who: Can use only one hand
                            Need a large target area                                     Have restricted range of motion     

                      

One-handed Keyboards                              On-Screen Keyboards                                 

Students who: Have good dexterity in one hand      Students who: Cannot use a keyboard

                          Have little or no range of motion          Can control a mouse or mouse emulator

Customizable

Students who: Have cognitive deficits

                               Need modifications

Additional Resources:

Society for the Physically Disabled

Text Information Resource:

Dell, A. G., Newton, D. A., & Petroff, J. G. (2012). Assistive Technology in the Classroom (Second ed., pp. 175-205). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.