Over the years, Emojis have become part of everyday language. From thumbs up to winking face, the pictograms have changed the way we communicate ever since its introduction in the late 1990s.
Evolving in recent years with emoji diversity, Apple has now submitted a request to Unicode Consortium for 13 new emojis to represent people with various disabilities.
The requested additions include guide dogs, hearing aids, prosthetic limbs and people using canes and wheelchairs including options for men and women along with skin tones.
In a statement, the tech company said: “Apple is requesting the addition of emoji to better represent individuals with disabilities.
“Currently, emoji provide a wide range of options, but may not represent the experiences of those with disabilities.
“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.”
Apple says the proposed emojis are a starting point, hinting that there might be more accessibility emoji to come.
Apple worked with various disability charities National Association of the Deaf, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and the American Council of the Blind to design the emojis.
The next Unicode Technical Committee meeting takes place next month. If approved, the new emojis would be available next year.
