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Switch access

A way of operating a device with one or more buttons, for people who cannot use a keyboard or touchscreen.

Also called
switch device

Switch access lets a person control a computer, phone, or tablet with one or a few physical switches: a large button, a sip-and-puff tube, or a sensor that detects a head movement. The system highlights options in turn, and the person presses the switch when the one they want is lit. People with significant motor disabilities use it.

Because switch access works through the same focus order as a keyboard, a page that works well with the Tab key usually works with a switch. A page that needs a mouse hover, a drag, or a precise gesture to finish a task does not.

Keyboard navigation
Moving through and operating a page with the keyboard alone, mostly with Tab, Enter, Space, and the arrow keys.
Assistive technology
Hardware or software a person uses to do what a standard setup makes hard, such as a screen reader or a switch.
Target size
How big a button, link, or other control is on screen, which decides whether people can tap it reliably.

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