Adding Accessibility Buttons to an XBox Controller Is Easier Than it Looks

In my spare time, I customize controllers for gamers who have disabilities. I’d like to share the most recent custom job I’ve done.

Scott emailed me to ask about building a controller for his son. Like so many people, his son can’t click the thumbstick clickers and can’t get to the shoulder pads or triggers.

Luckily, the shoulder buttons and thumbstick clicks are an easy modification.

First, I explained how I modify these (by adding more buttons) and Scott gave me an idea where his son felt they would be useful.

This was easily done! I simply had to solder directly into the momentary switches on the controller’s pcb.

I then route these tiny wires along the insides of this controller to the correct spots on the front.

Once the wires are fed through tiny holes in the faceplate, momentary switches are glued in place. I then trim the wire down to a more reasonable length.

The wires are then simply soldered to the momentary switches. It really is that easy.

All that is left on this part is to tidy things up and add a little hot glue to keep things in place.

This controller is also a bit of an experiment in a new design. I’m adding rubber feet to allow him to use the triggers by pressing the controller itself forward on a flat surface.

We’ll see how that works for him, he may need to install the previous designed ones I have.