Change Alternate Control Methods preferences for accessibility on Mac

Enable Mouse Keys

Move the pointer and press the mouse button using the keyboard or a numeric keypad.

To customize Mouse Keys, click Options:

• Press the Option key five times to toggle Mouse Keys: Use your keyboard to turn Mouse Keys on or off.

• Ignore built-in trackpad when Mouse Keys is on: Disable the trackpad on your Mac when you use Mouse Keys.

• Initial Delay: Set how quickly the pointer starts moving when you press a key.

• Maximum Speed: Set the maximum speed at which the pointer moves.

Enable alternate pointer actions

Perform a left-click, right-click, double-click, or drag-and-drop action using keyboard shortcuts, assistive switches, or facial expressions (such as a smile or an open mouth).

To specify keys, switches, and facial expressions, or to see the ones currently specified, click Options.

• To change the name or action assigned to a key, switch, or facial expression, double-click the item in the list, or select it, click the Action pop-up menu , then follow the onscreen instructions.

• To add a new key, switch, or facial expression to the list, click Add , then follow the onscreen instructions.

• To remove a key, switch, or facial expression from the list, click Remove .

• To choose the camera to use to detect facial expressions, click Camera Options. If you enabled head pointer, the same camera is used.

Note: A left-click, right-click, or double-click action occurs as soon as you use the specified switch. For example, if you set the switch for Left Click to the facial expression Stick Out Tongue, a left click occurs as soon as you stick out your tongue.

A drag-and-drop action requires you to use a switch twice: once to drag, then again to drop. For example, when you stick out your tongue, drag is activated; to drop, you must stick out your tongue again.

Enable head pointer

Move the pointer using the movement of your face or head as detected by the camera that’s built into or connected to your Mac.

To customize head pointer, click Options.

• Pointer moves: Choose how you want the pointer to follow the movement of your face or head:

  When Facing Screen Edges: The pointer follows the direction in which you turn your face away from the center of the screen, similar to how you move a joystick. To stop the pointer, turn your face to the center of the screen again. For example, if you turn your face toward the bottom right of the screen, the pointer moves toward that end of the Dock.

  Relative to Head: The pointer follows the direction in which you move your head (regardless of where your face is turned), similar to how you move a mouse. To stop the pointer, stop moving your head. For example, if you move your head left (even though your face is turned to the right), the pointer moves to the left.

• Pointer speed: The speed at which the pointer moves when you turn your face or move your head. The lower the number, the slower the pointer moves; the higher the number, the faster it moves.

• Distance to edge: If head pointer is set to When Facing Screen Edges, specify how far your face must be turned away from the center of the screen before the pointer starts moving. Set a higher number to help the camera differentiate between intentional and accidental movements.

• Camera: Choose a camera to use, if more than one camera is available.

• Use a switch to pause or resume head pointer: Specify a keyboard key or an assistive switch to use to pause or resume head pointer. Pausing head pointer can be useful if you’re away from your Mac for awhile.