People affected by severe motor disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brainstem stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury need alternative methods for communication and control. They may not be able to use even the most basic conventional assistive technologies, which all rely in one way or another on muscles. Studies from this and other laboratories have shown that humans, including those with severe motor disabilities, can learn to control sensorimotor rhythms and other features of scalp‐recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and that they can use this control to select letters or icons, or move a cursor in up to three dimensions. Such multidimensional control could be used to control a prosthesis or a robotic arm. Currently, we are showing that people with ALS can use EEG‐based brain‐computer interfaces (BCIs) for communication and control independently in their homes.