Overview

When it comes to computer navigation, a mouse may be a student's best friend! With a mouse's design and function, however, students with disabilities may find their use difficult. To use a mouse, you have to move the pointer to an area on the screen and press down to "click" (select).

This module offers information on alternative ways to move the pointer. We review a variety of "Plug and Play" mouse alternatives that are commercially available and require little set-up time. "Plug and play" means that you don't need a special interface. Just plug the device into a mouse port and it's ready to use! Information on vendors for many of these mouse alternatives is in our Mouse Vendors handout.

Consider using one of these mouse alternatives in combination with low-tech adaptations before investing in more specialized systems. The Specialized Input Systems section may also be helpful for students having difficulty using keyboard and mouse alternatives.