In 2020, a motorcycle accident changed my life permanently.
I lost my right arm, and overnight, something I had loved my entire life suddenly became almost impossible: gaming.
Not because I couldn’t think fast enough.
Not because I stopped loving it.
But because nothing existed that allowed someone with one working hand to fully play modern PC games competitively and comfortably.
Every setup assumed two hands.
At the time, I was already struggling financially and trying to rebuild my life after years of instability and homelessness. Losing gaming may sound small to some people, but for me, it was one of the last things that still made me feel connected, normal, and alive.
So instead of giving up, I started building.
I took a Razer Tartarus keypad, attached a mouse to it, added a hand strap, and completely remapped the controls so I could aim, move, shoot, and interact using only one hand.
And somehow…
It worked.
Not perfectly at first, but for the first time since my accident, I could actually play again.
That prototype became ERCHAM — a one-handed gaming and productivity device that combines a keyboard and mouse into a single adaptive system. It’s designed to let users aim, move, click, and control everything with one hand in a way that traditional peripherals simply don’t allow.
Since sharing the project online, the response has been overwhelming. Thousands of gamers, amputees, and people with mobility limitations reached out saying things like:
“Why doesn’t this already exist?”
“I need this.”
“This would change gaming for me.”
That’s when I realized ERCHAM might be bigger than just helping me.
I’m raising funds to continue developing ERCHAM into a real product — not only so I can continue gaming independently, but so other people facing disabilities or mobility challenges can have access to something built for them too.
Your support will help fund:
Prototype engineering
3D printing and testing
Manufacturing preparation
Electronic components and materials
Shipping and logistics
Development work with a USA-based prototyping and engineering lab
My goal is $4,700, which will directly fund the next stage of development and help move ERCHAM from a working prototype toward a production-ready device.
Even if you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser means more than you know.
ERCHAM started as something I built out of desperation after losing a part of myself. But it became something that gave me hope again.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story and support this journey.
— Joe Tomasulo
Organizer
