If a client or someone in your care uses an AAC device with eye gaze, the mount matters as much as the device. A mount that flexes, drifts, or can’t hold the tracker at the right distance, you $12,000 communication system will not function properly. Here’s how I match wheelchair mounts to AAC and eye gaze setups, and which Rehadapt systems I reach for first.
Key takeaways
- The single most important spec is determining exactly where in space, in relation to the user, the eye gaze system is to be mounted .
- Eye gaze trackers need the screen held at a fixed distance, usually 50 to 75 cm from the user’s eyes. Your mount has to reach that position and hold it without sagging. Ideally, a support team consisting of a speech pathologist and an OT will determine exactly where the device is to be held.
- Rehadapt’s Monty 3D line is the workhorse for AAC mounting: Monty 3D, Monty 3D Plus HD, and Monty 3D Curved XL cover light tablets up to heavy speech devices with trackers.
- Frame clamp choice depends on your wheelchair tube diameter and shape. Getting the right frame clamp for your client or user’s wheelchair is essential. .
- Fold-away or swing-away function is not optional for daily users. It clears the device for transfers, meals, and getting through doorways without removing the whole mount Most importantly, it allows fast access to the user. .
- In Canada, CS Mounting Systems supplies and configures Rehadapt mounts, so you can spec the full assembly instead of guessing part numbers.
What makes a wheelchair mount “best” for an AAC device?
The best wheelchair mount for an AAC device holds the screen dead still at the exact height, angle, and distance the user needs, and it does that all day without drifting In addition, the mount must return the device to its originating position after being removed from the chair and then returned to the chair. For an eye gaze assist . For eye gaze users that stability requirement is stricter, because a tracker that shifts even a centimeter can lose calibration and break communication mid-sentence.
I judge a mount on five things, in this order:
- For an eye gaze system, the most important thing after you get the device in the right position, is stability. The mount has to hold the device in place with as little movement and vibration as possible.
- Reach and adjustability. Eye gaze systems are generally mounted farther away from the user than other devices. Tj mount has to place the screen where the user can see and be seen by the tracker, then lock there.
- Fold-away function. Daily users need to clear the device for transfers, eating, and doorways. It is essential that the mount to provide access to the user.
- Frame clamp fit. The clamp has to match the wheelchair structure. Rehadapt has the largest range of bases or frame clamps in the industry. .
- Serviceability. Joints should re-tension over time, because a mount that loosens after three months is a mount you’ll be replacing.
A cheap fixed arm meets none of these well. That’s why AAC teams standardize on modular systems like Rehadapt.
The hard way and the easy way.
The easy way to know exactly what you need to mount your particular device on your user’s particular wheelchair is the Rehadapt VMS system. Fill in this form and submit it, and the engineers at Rehadapt will design the system ideally suited for your situation. https://rehadapt.com/vms/form/
Here are some guidelines if you want to design the mount yourself.
Match the mount to the combined weight of the device plus the eye tracker plus any keyguard or case, not the device alone. Rehadapt organizes mounts around tube diameter, which corresponds to load capacity.
| Rehadapt system | Tube size | Best for | Typical devices |
| L3D | 16 mm | Light tablets, no tracker or light tracker | iPad + light AAC app, tablet under 2 lbs |
| H3D | Hybrid | Mid-weight tablet + tracker | Tablet AAC with eye gaze under ~4 lbs |
| M3D | 22 mm | Heavy dedicated speech devices | Tobii Dynavox I-Series, Grid Pad, PRC Accent with tracker |
If you’re between categories, size up. A mount rated with headroom stays rigid; a mount at its limit vibrates and creeps. For a dedicated eye gaze speech device that already weighs 3 to 5 lbs before mounting hardware, I go straight to the M3D class.
[ADD: your most common device-to-mount pairing from real orders, e.g. “About 60% of our eye gaze orders pair a Tobii I-16 with a Monty 3D Plus HD.”]
Which Rehadapt mounts do I recommend for AAC and eye gaze?
For most AAC and eye gaze setups I recommend one of three Monty 3D mounts, chosen by weight and reach. Here’s how I rank them and why.
- Monty 3D Plus HD — best all-around for eye gaze speech devices.This is my default for dedicated eye gaze devices. The heavy-duty joints hold a 4 to 5 lb device with a tracker steady at full reach, and it re-tensions cleanly when joints eventually wear in. If you only look at one mount for a Tobii Dynavox or PRC eye gaze device, look at this one.
- Monty 3D — best for tablet-based AAC.For an iPad or tablet running an AAC app, with or without a light tracker, the standard Monty 3D gives full 3D positioning without the bulk or cost of the HD. It’s the right call when combined weight stays under about 3 lbs.
- Monty 3D Curved XL — best for long reach and hard positioning.When the device has to sit far forward, off to one side, or clear a tray or lap, the Curved XL geometry gets there without forcing the user into an awkward posture. I reach for this when a standard straight arm can’t hit the eye tracker’s distance window.
Criteria I’m ranking on: rigidity at full extension, ease of daily fold-away, and long-term serviceability. All three beat generic mounts on all three counts, which is why AAC providers across Canada standardize on them.
[ADD: link to your product category page, e.g. Monty 3D range at /new-csmounts/product-category/monty-3d/]
How far should an eye gaze device sit from the user?
Most eye trackers work in a window of roughly 50 to 75 cm between the user’s eyes and the screen, and your mount must be able to hold the device at that fixed distance. Too close and the tracker loses the corners of the screen; too far and it can’t resolve the eyes reliably. If you are a parent or a family member, you should be looking to your speech pathologist/OT team for guidance in the correct placement of an eye gaze system.
This is where reach quietly decides which mount you need. Measure from where the frame clamp will sit on the wheelchair to where the screen needs to float. If that distance is over about 40 cm, a light mount will droop into a shorter position and pull the device out of the tracker’s range. For long reaches, the Monty 3D Plus HD or Monty 3D Curved XL hold the line where a lighter mount won’t.
Check the specific working distance for your tracker (Tobii, EyeTech, or the built-in module) before ordering, since the range varies by model. [ADD: note the trackers you most often support and their distance specs.]
How do I pick the right frame clamp for my wheelchair?
Pick the frame clamp by measuring your wheelchair’s tube diameter and shape, because the clamp is what everything else bolts to. Getting this wrong is the most common ordering mistake I fix.
Rehadapt clamps come in a few families:
- Round closed clamp for standard round tubing you can slide the clamp onto.
- Round semi-open clamp for round tubing where you can’t remove other hardware to slide a closed clamp on.
- Socket / quick-release style when you need to remove the whole mount fast and reattach it in the same position.
Steps I follow every time:
- Measure the outside diameter of the tube where the mount will sit, in millimeters.
- Note whether that tube is round, oval, or square.
- Check for cross-bars, cables, or actuators that block clamp access.
- Match to the Rehadapt clamp that fits that exact tube.
A quick-release socket is worth it for anyone who transfers daily or travels, because it lets the device come off and go back on in the same calibrated position.
How do I order the right assembly without guessing part numbers?
Use Rehadapt’s VMS configurator to build the full assembly, then have CS Mounting Systems check and place the Canadian order. The VMS tool at rehadapt.com walks you from device, to mount, to clamp, and outputs a complete parts list so nothing is missing when the box arrives.
Here’s the workflow I use:
- Weigh the device with its tracker, case, and keyguard.
- Measure reach from clamp point to screen position.
- Confirm the tracker’s working distance.
- Measure the wheelchair tube diameter and shape.
- Build it in VMS, then send it to us to confirm fit and availability in Canada.
CS Mounting Systems is based in Vancouver and supplies Rehadapt across Canada, so you get the right parts the first time instead of ordering three clamps to find one that fits. [ADD: your phone/email and typical Canadian lead time.]
Frequently asked questions
What is the best wheelchair mount for a Tobii Dynavox eye gaze device?For a dedicated Tobii Dynavox eye gaze device I recommend the Rehadapt Monty 3D Plus HD. The heavy-duty joints hold the device’s 4 to 5 lb weight steady at full reach so the tracker stays calibrated. Confirm your frame clamp against the wheelchair tube before ordering.
How much weight can a Rehadapt AAC mount hold?It depends on the tube class. Light L3D (16mm) mounts suit tablets under about 2 lbs, the H3D hybrid handles mid-weight setups up to roughly 4 lbs, and M3D (22mm) heavy-duty mounts carry the heaviest dedicated speech devices with trackers. Always spec by combined device, tracker, and case weight, and size up if you’re on the line.
Can I fold the mount away for transfers and meals?Yes. Rehadapt Monty 3D mounts include fold-away and swing-away function so you can clear the device for transfers, eating, and doorways without removing the whole assembly. A quick-release socket clamp lets you take the mount off entirely and reattach it in the same position.
Do eye gaze devices need a special mount compared to touch AAC?Eye gaze setups need more rigidity and precise distance control than touch AAC. The tracker must sit at a fixed 50 to 75 cm from the user’s eyes and stay there, so a stiffer mount with reliable joints matters more. A touch-only tablet tolerates a lighter mount because small drift doesn’t break calibration.
Where can I buy Rehadapt wheelchair mounts in Canada?CS Mounting Systems in Vancouver supplies Rehadapt mounts, clamps, and components across Canada. You can configure your assembly with the Rehadapt VMS tool, then contact us to confirm fit and place the order. [https://rehadapt.com/vms/form/]