🦼
Motorized Wheelchair
MOH-tuh-rized WHEEL-chair
Definitions
1
Transportation · Accessibility
Common
A self-propelled wheelchair with electric motor, used to represent accessibility, mobility aids, and disability inclusion in digital communication.
Used in contexts related to accessibility, disability representation, and discussions about mobility aids.
The new museum has 🦼 access throughout all exhibits.
Social media post about accessibility
My grandpa just got his new 🦼 and he's zooming around the neighborhood!
Family chat
Represents disability visibility and inclusion efforts in digital spaces, often used in advocacy contexts.
2
Advocacy · Representation
Common
Symbol used in disability advocacy contexts to represent inclusion, accessibility rights, and disability pride.
Often included in content about disability rights, accessible spaces, and inclusive design.
Disability visibility matters 🦼 #DisabilityPrideMonth
Social media advocacy post
Part of broader efforts to increase disability representation in emoji and digital communication.
Evolution Timeline
2019
Added to Unicode 12.0 as part of increased representation of disability and accessibility in emoji.
Advocacy from disability rights organizations for better representation in digital communication.
2020
Gained prominence during COVID-19 pandemic in discussions about vulnerable populations and accessibility.
Increased awareness of disability issues during global health crisis.
Cultural Context
Represents ongoing efforts to increase disability visibility and representation in digital spaces, part of broader disability rights movements.
Added to emoji sets relatively recently (2019) after advocacy from disability organizations for better representation of mobility aids.
Terminology around motorized wheelchairs varies (power chair, electric wheelchair) reflecting broader discussions about disability language.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
More commonly called an 'electric wheelchair' or 'powered wheelchair' in British English.
United States
Often referred to as a 'power chair' or 'electric wheelchair' in American English.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used practically in communications about accessibility needs and family mobility discussions.
Gen_Z: Used matter-of-factly in discussions about accessibility and inclusion. Often included in social justice advocacy content.
Older: Less frequently used, but adopted for practical communications about mobility needs and accessibility requirements.
Millennials: Commonly used in workplace communications about accessibility and in social media advocacy for disability rights.
Common Combinations
🦼♿
Wheelchair accessibility and disability access in physical spaces.
Used to indicate accessible facilities or to advocate for better accessibility.
🦼➡️🚪
Accessible entrance or pathway for motorized wheelchair users.
Used in practical communications about accessible routes and entrances.
🦼💨
Moving quickly in a motorized wheelchair, often humorous.
Playful representation of speed, sometimes used by wheelchair users themselves.