Hearing Aids, Wheelchairs, and 15 Other New Inclusive Emoji to Represent People With Disabilities

It was recently announced that 230 brand new emoji will be hitting our phones very soon, and among some of the new characters like a sloth and a waffle, there will now be 17 inclusive emoji to represent people with disabilities (most specifically, physical disabilities).

In a proposal shared last March, Apple requested the inclusive additions.

"Currently, emoji provide a wide range of options, but may not represent the experiences of those with disabilities. Diversifying the options available helps fill a significant gap and provides a more inclusive experience for all," the proposal reads. "One in seven people around the world has some form of disability, whether that be a physical disability involving vision, hearing, or loss of physical motor skills, or a more hidden, invisible disability. The current selection of emoji provides a wide array of representations of people, activities, and objects meaningful to the general public, but very few speak to the life experiences of those with disabilities."

Check out the new emoji ahead!

01

Guide Dog

02

Service Dog

03

Probing Cane

04

Woman With Probing Cane

05

Man With Probing Cane

06

Manual Wheelchair

08

Man in Manual Wheelchair

09

Motorized Wheelchair

10

Woman in Motorized Wheelchair

11

Man in Motorized Wheelchair

12

Ear With Hearing Aid

13

Deaf Person

15

Deaf Man

16

Mechanical Arm

17

Mechanical Leg