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Also called: limited mobility, tremor, RSI, can't use a mouse

Movement & hands-free

When tiny buttons and a mouse aren't the way you move.

People use computers and phones with their hands in many different ways, and some don't use their hands at all. Someone might have a tremor, limited grip or reach, repetitive strain, fatigue, or pain that comes and goes. Others use a wheelchair, a mouth stick, a switch, eye tracking or their voice.

All of these are valid ways to use the web. What matters is whether the web lets them work.

Too often it doesn't. Tiny links, drag-and-drop only controls, time limits and pages that need precise mouse movements all assume one kind of hand. When sites work with a keyboard, voice and larger targets, far more people can move through them comfortably.

See it for yourself

A short simulation. Then turn on the fix and notice the difference.

Simulation

Click the “Accept” buttons inside the box. Your pointer shakes, like it can with a tremor. With a keyboard: move into the box, use the arrow keys to aim (hold Shift for bigger steps) and press Enter or Space to click.

AcceptAcceptAccept

Hits 0 · Misses 0

The red ring shows where your last click really landed.

Tremor, pain or fatigue can make small targets hard to hit. Bigger buttons and voice control remove the problem.

What gets in the way online

  • Small buttons and links placed close together
  • Controls that only work with a mouse, hover or drag-and-drop
  • Time limits on forms, logins and checkouts
  • Captchas and gestures that need fast or precise movement
  • Pages that trap keyboard focus or hide where it is

What helps

  • Voice control to click, scroll and type by speaking
  • Keyboard shortcuts and extensions that let you browse without a mouse
  • Bigger targets, and settings that make the pointer larger or easier to see
  • Turning off time limits, or asking for more time
  • Autofill and password managers that reduce typing
  • Pacing online tasks with breaks to manage pain and fatigue

Tools that help

Learn more

Every course for Movement & hands-free