How to Adapt a Mouse to Click with Your Foot

If you have arthritis (or another physical disability), you may want an easy option for an alternative mouse. This adaptation will allow you to click the mouse with your feet when you can't do so with your hands.

1

→ Obtain a second USB mouse. Computers can accept input from 2 mice. Use one for moving the cursor. The other for clicking is on the floor to be foot-operated.

2

→ Cut 2 short pieces of plastic tubing, such as ⁄4 inch (1.9 cm) plastic conduit.

→ Drill a hole in one side: ⁄4 inch (0.6 cm) or a little larger.

→ Insert a small bit in the drill and drill a small hole on the side opposite the large hole.

→ Repeat for each of the two pieces.

3

→ Drill a small pilot hole in each of the two mouse buttons. Put a bit of glue on the piece of tubing around the small hole.

→ Insert a screw through the hole from inside the tubing.

→ Using the large hole for screwdriver access, screw the piece of tubing onto a mouse button.

→ Repeat for each of the two buttons.

4

→ For best ease of use, take a piece of Styrofoam insulation board and cut it to around a 1 foot (0.3 m) square.

→ Cut a notch in one edge to fit the mouse. This will hold the mouse in place and provide a soft resting pad for the feet.

5

→ Optionally, put foam weatherstripping on top of the tubing to pad it. Duct tape can help hold it in place.

→ It may be easier to click the mouse without the padding, so only use it if you need it.

TIPS

→ Positioning the attached tubing farther toward the outer edge of the mouse than pictured may make it easier to click.

→ This mouse design is used only for clicking. You can use a second mouse for positioning the cursor. If needed, you can attach a vertical padded handle to the other mouse. A trackball may be easier for some people to use.

→ Putting wooden flaps hinged to the styrofoam base with screws on the underside that line up with the mouse buttons is a bit more work, but makes a much easier to use installation. See this article for an alternative design.

Warnings

→ Be careful not to drill too far into the mouse buttons.

→ Make sure your screw is short enough or has enough washers under it so that it doesn't penetrate too far into the mouse button.