Accessibility · Motor control
Mounts, splinting & positioning
The controller isn't the only thing that gets adapted. Where a control sits — and how the body is supported to reach it — often decides whether a game is playable at all. Good mounting and positioning cut fatigue and give steady, repeatable control.
Why placement matters
A control placed where a player has reliable, repeatable movement beats one they have to strain to reach. Mounting a button, switch, or joystick in the right spot — and supporting the body around it — reduces fatigue, improves accuracy, and lets a session last. The goal is the same as the whole craft: the setup moves to meet the player, not the other way round.
Mounting: put the control where the movement is
Flexible arms & goosenecks
- Articulating "magic arm" ↗ — Bends and locks to hold a switch, button, or phone exactly where a hand, foot, or head can reach it.
- Gooseneck mounts ↗ — A flexible neck that positions a control and stays put — many made specifically for accessible switches.
Clamps & fixed mounts
- Flex clamp mounts ↗ — Jaw-style clamps that grip a table edge, desk, or bed rail to anchor a control.
- RAM Mounts (Tough-Claw, wheelchair arm) ↗ — Rugged clamp-and-arm systems, including wheelchair-rail mounts, built to hold devices steady.
- Tripod & ball-head mounts ↗ — Small swivel heads that aim a control at any angle for a stable, repeatable position.
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Positioning & splinting — with a therapist
How a person is seated and supported changes what they can do. An occupational therapist assesses seating, posture, trunk support, and hand position, and may fabricate or recommend a splint to stabilize one joint so another movement is freed up. This is skilled clinical work: a therapist tailors it to the individual and adjusts it over time. If you're setting up at home, it's worth asking an OT to review positioning before investing in hardware.
Evaluating a setup
Not sure where to start? Our evaluation tools help match a person's abilities to the right controls and mounting — and our consultation service can review a setup with you.
Back to motor-control solutions, or explore all accessibility guides.
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