Apple has proposed a series of new emojis to the Unicode Consortium, aiming to better represent individuals with disabilities and depict accessibility-related tools such as hearing aids, guide dogs, and prosthetic limbs. This move is driven by Apple’s inability to include these emojis in iOS and Mac OS until the Consortium approves them.
The proposed emojis will depict people experiencing blindness or low-vision, deafness or difficulty hearing, physical disabilities, as well as those with hidden conditions like Autism, anxiety, and PTSD. Apple emphasized in its proposal that technology should be accessible to everyone, reflecting diversity and inclusivity within society. The company noted that these emojis serve as symbols of users’ life experiences, fostering a more inclusive culture.
The proposed emojis include:
- An emoji depicting someone who is blind or has low-vision, symbolizing accessibility for visually impaired individuals.
- An emoji representing people who are deaf or have hearing difficulties, highlighting support for the hearing-impaired community.
- Emojis illustrating individuals with physical disabilities, showcasing inclusivity across all physical abilities.
- Emojis featuring people with hidden disabilities, such as Autism, anxiety, and PTSD, aiming to create a more supportive environment.
Apple worked with organizations like the American Council of the Blind, Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and National Association for the Deaf to develop these emojis. The company’s proposal is not an exhaustive list of all possible depictions but serves as a starting point for further discussion.
The next step involves the Unicode Technical Committee meeting to vote on whether to approve these new emojis. If approved, they will be shortlisted for Emoji 12.0, set to release in March 2019. For more insights into the emoji approval process, readers can check out an interview with Jeremy Burge, vice-chair of the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee.
Megan Rose Dickey is a senior reporter at TechCrunch, focusing on labor, transportation, and diversity and inclusion in tech. She previously spent two years at Business Insider covering tech startups focused on the shared economy, IoT, and music industry. Megan holds a degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of Southern California.
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