Assistive Technology: Sonoma Academy (2025) - IR Hand Switch and Mouth Joystick

IR Hand Switch & Mouth Joystick

IR Hand Switch

Mouth Joystick

Meet the Engineer

Eli Goldberg

Hi, my name is Eli. I’m 18 years old and currently a senior in high school. My passion for design began when I decided to enroll in the class Design for Social Good, which I hoped would push me to develop engineering, and design skills. I’ve always loved hands-on projects, and this class allowed me to combine that interest with something even more meaningful—creating solutions to help people with physical disabilities like Cerebral Palsy

Working on this project has been a true learning curve, but it has also sparked a strong interest in taking more design and engineering courses in the future. Seeing firsthand how assistive technology can make a difference has been incredibly rewarding, and it has given me a sense of purpose in my work.

I hope you enjoy these assistive technology devices that I have created. If you have any questions or thoughts, please feel free to reach out!

Contact Information: egoldy1313@yahoo.com

Build Instructions

Switch Build: IR Hand Switch

Materials

CAD File(s)

Click here

Code

Click here

Step 1

Preparing the Enclosure

Start with one shoe box as the base.
Cut a hole in the top of the box, sized to snugly fit an IR sensor.
The hole should be centered and clean to avoid unnecessary movement or light leakage.

Step 2

3D Printed IR Sensor Mount

Design a 3D CAD model of a placeholder that:
Has a cylinder to sit inside the hole cut in the shoe box.
Holds the IR sensor securely and prevents it from wobbling or slipping.
Print the mount and insert it into the hole, ensuring a flush and secure fit.
Mount the IR sensor into the 3D printed part.

Step 3

Secondary Box and Internal Support

A second shoe box is used either to enclose wires, add another sensor, or support the structural design.
Any necessary holes or slots are added to allow cables to route between the two boxes cleanly.

Step 4

Wiring the IR Sensors

Connect the IR sensors using JST male-to-female servo extension cables.
Route the cables neatly through any support holes in the box.
Use jumper wires to extend connections to the Arduino Leonardo where necessary.

Step 5

Arduino Leonardo Integration

Mount the Arduino Leonardo inside or on top of the box in a secure location.
Connect the IR sensor signal pins to appropriate digital input pins on the Arduino.
Power and ground the IR sensors using the Arduino’s 5V and GND pins.

Make sure all wires are secure and not interfering with the sensor's line of sight.
Upload a test sketch to the Arduino to verify both IR sensors are working as expected.
Adjust positions as needed for optimal sensing.