Many of us have witnessed someone struggle with small push buttons. These buttons are everywhere, from vehicles and appliances to gaming controllers. But for people with limited dexterity, low vision, age-related changes, or other challenges, using them can be difficult. Fortunately, there are simple Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solutions to make buttons easier to access. Whether you have a disability yourself or want to help others, this guide will inspire you to create your own adaptations using everyday materials. Read on and get ready to put your ingenuity to work!
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Devices with adapted buttonsWho May Need Push Button Modifications?
Push button modifications are great for anyone who:
Hands: Has limited hand strength or dexterity due to conditions like arthritis, limb differences, hand injuries, or neurological conditions
Sensory: Needs extra help perceiving buttons due to vision loss or other sensory challenges
Cognition: Benefits from environmental adaptations due to aging, learning differences, or developmental delays
Ease: Wants to improve ease of access to push buttons
Who Can Make Push Button Modifications?
This isn’t an all-inclusive list, but here are a few groups who may be interested in making push button modifications:
Assistive technology creators
Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs)
Occupational Therapy Practitioners (OTPs), Physical Therapists, or Speech Therapists
Caregivers
Teachers
Special Educators
Orientation and Mobility Specialists
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists
Ergonomics Specialists
Rehab Engineers
Adult Day Services Providers
Wheelchair Technicians
Disability Services Providers
Inclusion Services Providers
Anyone else interested in DIY Assistive Technology
What Are DIY Adaptations for Push Buttons?
DIY Adaptations to push buttons can take several forms, like these common strategies:
Increase surface area: Making buttons larger provides a bigger target area and increases leverage.
Enhance texture: Adding texture creates sensory cues for easier identification and manipulation.
Build up buttons: Increasing button height makes them easier to activate by increasing leverage. This also works well for recessed push buttons.
Create softer or rounded buttons: People who have hand pain or fragile hands may benefit from cushioning and rounded corners.
Make color modifications: Contrasting colors can improve visibility for those with low vision. Color coding may enhance access for people with cognitive challenges. For example, using the color green on ‘start’ or ‘on’ buttons and red on ‘stop’ or ‘off’ buttons.
Materials of varying shapes, sizes, textures, and colors for button adaptationsBasic Biomechanical and Sensory Principles for Push Button Modifications
Our ability to work with small buttons is influenced by biomechanical and sensory principles. Biomechanics involves how our bodies interact with external forces. Meanwhile, our senses like tactile perception guide us in manipulating things with our hands. Together, these factors shape how we interact with small objects in our daily activities. Let’s take a look at some basic biomechanical and sensory principles that we can apply to DIY assistive technology.
Sensation
Buttons may incorporate features that enhance sensory feedback during operation. This tactile perception of touch and pressure helps us understand when we’ve activated a button or lever.
People with vision loss or blindness rely on touch sensations to interact with the world. Enhancing or varying surface textures can help enhance their abilities.
Other people have reduced sensory perception and benefit from enhancements to the button surface to help them detect it. Lastly, using bright or contrasting colors can improve accessibility for people with visual or cognitive challenges.
Ergonomics
Modifying buttons with ergonomic considerations ensures that the user’s fingers comfortably and efficiently interact with buttons and levers. This involves accommodating finger shapes and natural movement patterns.
Leverage
Think of pushing a button or operating a small lever like using a wrench. Just as a longer handle makes it easier to turn a bolt, having extended surfaces on buttons provides leverage. This reduces the force your muscles need to exert, making it easier to press buttons and manipulate small levers.
Friction
The efficiency of pressing small buttons relies on the friction between your fingers and the control surface. Some controls feature textured surfaces to enhance this friction, facilitating easier operation without the need for excessive force.
Joint Alignment
Properly designed controls should support natural alignment of the wrists and fingers, reducing stress on the joints. This ensures a more comfortable way of interacting with buttons and small levers.
Surface Area
Buttons with larger surface areas may help reduce errors, allowing people with limited coordination or dexterity to achieve precision in manipulating push buttons with greater ease. On the flip side, a person with limited range of motion but accurate coordination may prefer a smaller button.
Important Notes Before You Start!
As with any project, please read all product materials for instructions and safety information. Look for safe handling advice, age recommendations, and potential hazards. The heat activated materials listed on this post require extra safety precautions and may not be suitable for all makers. Be sure to see our post on moldable materials for reference. If you are creating adaptations for someone else, be sure to inquire about any skin allergies and plan accordingly. They may need to consult their healthcare provider before using some materials.
Material Options for DIY Push Button Modifications
There are range of beginner to advanced options listed here. Some of these projects may require help from an occupational therapy practitioner, assistive technology specialist or similarly trained person. Of many materials you can use for DIY push button modifications, here are some favorites:
1. Sugru
Sugru is a moldable silicone glue that adheres to various surfaces and cures into a durable silicone rubber. It’s great for enhancing the shape of small buttons because it sticks to many surfaces, retains its shape after molding, and air dries in 48 or less hours. It has a long working time, allowing for precise shaping.
Sugru used to build up volume buttons on the side of a cell phone case.2. Thermoplastic Beads
Thermoplastic beads like Instamorph and Polly Plastics Moldable Plastic soften with heat (140-150 degrees Fahrenheit or greater) and harden upon cooling. They don’t stick to all materials, but will bond to other plastics like ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, and vinyl plastics when heated. However, the bond may change after the shape cools. This material has a short working time and sets quickly. It works best to create smooth button enhancements instead of detailed textures.
Heated Instamorph beads were used to create button build ups. A lever enhancement was added to the middle button. These enhancements had to be glued to the controller buttons.3. Thermoplastic Sheets
Low temperature thermoplastic sheets, activated at temperatures ranging from 140-175 degrees Fahrenheit, become malleable for small to large projects. They are known in the medical field as “splinting material” and feature a wide variety of material characteristics. You can also find thermoplastic sheets in craft realms well. Due to the wide variety of material properties in this category, experimentation is required. Some thermoplastic sheet materials may adhere to other plastics, while others will need to cool and then be secured to the target button.
Small pieces made out of splinting material to be added to push buttons4. FixIts
FixIts are moldable plastic sticks designed for repairs and creative projects. They soften at temperatures above 122 degrees Fahrenheit, requiring an approximately one minute dip in boiling water for activation. They can be reheated as needed. Like thermoplastic beads, FixIts will readily bond to other plastics like ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, and vinyl plastics when heated. However, the bond may or may not hold after it’s cooled. Double sided tape or glue may be required.
FixIt strip used to build up a garage door opener button5. Polymer Clay
This versatile clay comes in various colors and can be molded to create custom button modifications. Polymer clay is preferred over other types of clay for its durability. It has a long working time and holds texture well, making it a great choice for tactile enhancements. You will have to tape or glue the finished product to your button because most polymer clay requires baking to set. However, a few air dry polymer clays also exist.
Polymer clay is very durable and accepts tactile enhancements well.6. Hook and Loop Fasteners
Hook and loop fasteners have distinctive tactile features, making them a great choice to help people with blindness or low vision who rely more heavily on their sense of touch. Or they can help people with decreased tactile sensation with their pronounced textures.
Hook and loop fasteners can serve as tactile enhancements for push buttons.7. Plastic Gemstones
Plastic gemstones are inexpensive and come in various sizes. They can be used to build-up buttons or for tactile enhancement. Bright, eye catching colors create visual contrast for people with low vision. For people with cognitive challenges, they can be used to visually code buttons, enhancing attention and focus.
A handful of brightly colored plastic gemstones8. Hot Glue Gun Enhancements
You can use a hot glue gun to make dots and other shapes to add to push buttons. It’s easy to make a variety of shapes and sizes quickly with this method. For small electronic buttons, you may need to allow the shapes to dry and then use gel super glue or double sided tape to adhere them.
Hot glue gun used to make push button enhancements9. Felt Furniture Pads and Cabinet Bumper Dots
Felt furniture pads come in various sizes and thicknesses. They can also be cut to the desired size and shape. Plastic cabinet bumper dots are also an excellent choice for their durability.
Felt furniture pads and plastic cabinet bumper dots10. Tape or Glue
Tape or glue may or may not be needed for your project. Some materials have self-adhesive backing and some plastic materials bond to other plastics. For a permanent bond, consider gel super glue which is less likely to run into electronic parts and cause damage. For temporary modifications, try double sided tape or hook and loop with adhesive backing. See our post on 17 Top Tapes for DIY Assistive Technology Projects for more ideas.
Gel super glue for precision applicationsTips for Creating Push Button Adaptations
The specific modifications will depend on the user and the materials at play. But here are some general steps:
Identify the button: Start by selecting the button you want to adapt. Experiment with how much pressure needs to be applied, the pushing angle, and required hold time for activation.
Choose your materials: Consider the desired outcome (increased size, added texture, etc.) and select the appropriate materials.
Make your modifications: Follow the instructions for your chosen material to create the desired adaptation.
Test and refine: Try out your modifications and adjust if needed for optimal comfort and functionality.
Summary
In our everyday lives, small push buttons can pose challenges for people with disabilities. However, DIY push button modifications can significantly improve their accessibility. This guide has equipped you with the knowledge and inspiration to create your own adaptations using readily available materials. From adding surface area and enhancing texture to building up buttons and using contrasting colors, the possibilities are vast!
Remember, consideration of biomechanical and sensory principles is important for effective modifications. By understanding factors like leverage, friction, joint alignment, and surface area, you can design adaptations that are comfortable and functional. If you need specialized help or have safety concerns, please seek out help from an occupational therapy practitioner, assistive technology specialist, or other trained professional.
