Assuming you don't use FRC rule breaking space magic, you'll most likely just be building a joystick with no axes. You can use the TI Launchpad you received in your 2015 KOP, instructions here:
http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_LaunchPad_Operator_Interface_for_FIRST_Robo tics_Competition. You can then read it from code just like any other joystick button. You don't have to use this one, any HID compliant joystick will work. This one just has FRC support.
Side note: You can read from autonomous, it just reads the last joystick value right before autonomous begins.