There are mice alternatives that can be used for computers. Some students may have difficulties using a traditional mouse, so an alternative mouse might be an accommodation.
While there are many different types of mice available, a few of the more common ones will be briefly explained.
Sometimes the traditional mouse can be used at the same time as an alternative mouse and the student can go back and forth between the two. An alternative mouse can function as a regular mouse would, but are designed to accommodate the different needs of students with disabilities.
Joystick mouse is a mouse that has movement & control similar to that found on video games for control of the movement of the cursor.
Optical Mouse: This type of mouse is designed with an easy glide motion, so a student doesn’t need to move his or her wrists as much to navigate the computer. The optical mice all function to ease movement in various ways.
Pen Mouse is a specialized mouse that can be held like a pen, and when a button pressed the pen acts as a mouse. There is no mouse pad needed and the pen can be used while writing in the air, which sends the message to the computer to move the cursor in the same direction. Another alternative is to have a mouse pad that represents the computer screen and move the pen mouse across the pad.
Touch Pad is a mouse that has a specialized surface that is sensitive to touch. When the surface is touched, the cursor on the screen goes in the direction of the touch (similar to touch mice found on most laptops). The touch pad is positioned where a regular mouse would go and the student touches the pad to activate the mouse.
Track balls: This type of mouse is designed for those with limited motion in their arms/hands. A person with a disability can "spin" the trackball in the direction he/she wishes the cursor to move on the screen, rather than having to move the entire mouse itself. Track balls also eliminate the need to stabilize or hold the mouse still when clicking.
Accessibility Features on the computer can set up the keypad to be used as a mouse. See Accessibility Wizard
Head Pointers There are mouse alternatives called Head Stylus. These are made in two forms: Mouth and Forehead. If a student has little to no use in his/her arms, the student can use a mouse designed for use with the mouth or forehead navigate on the computer, instead of a traditional mouse. These types of mice can be used with on-screen computer keyboards as well.
Brain Waves There are Mind / Muscle / Eye mouse alternatives. A student’s brain waves control the mouse and navigate the computer.
Eye Gaze There is a mouse alternative that uses an Eye-Gaze system. A student’s eye movements control the mouse and navigate the computer.
Muscle Twitches There is a mouse alternative that uses controlled muscle twitches to control the mouse and navigate the computer screen.
Sip and Puff Sip and puff switch is a mouse alternative where a student blows (puffs) into a tube, which then moves the mouse and navigates the computer using Morse code.
No Hands Mouse There is a mouse alternative that uses feet, instead of a student’s hands, as a mouse on the computer.
No Click Mouse A mouse is used to navigate the computer screen, but programs are available that once the mouse is hovering over a portion of the computer screen, the mouse will automatically click for itself instead of a person needing to manually click the mouse to select an option.
For more information: click on Computer Accessibility or Keyboard Modifications
Special thanks to Kathy Hooyenga for her feedback and input concerning Mouse for Computers.
