🧑🦼
Person in Motorized Wheelchair
PUR-suhn in MOH-tuh-rized WHEEL-chair
Definitions
1
People · Accessibility
Common
Represents a person using a motorized wheelchair, depicting mobility aid usage and disability representation. Used to discuss accessibility, disability experiences, or indicate wheelchair use.
Often used in contexts promoting inclusion, discussing accessibility needs, or representing people with mobility disabilities.
Just got my new motorized wheelchair today! 🧑🦼 Freedom!
Personal social media post
The museum has improved their accessibility features 🧑🦼 Everyone can enjoy the exhibits now!
Community announcement
Part of efforts to increase disability representation in digital communication. Introduced as part of Unicode's push for more inclusive emoji options.
2
People · Advocacy
Common
Used symbolically in disability advocacy contexts to represent disability rights, accessibility awareness, and inclusion in digital spaces.
Commonly used in hashtags, profiles, and messages related to disability advocacy and awareness campaigns.
Reminder that all public buildings should be accessible! 🧑🦼 #DisabilityRights
Advocacy tweet
Represents the growing visibility of disability communities online and efforts to normalize disability representation in everyday communication.
Evolution Timeline
2019
Unicode 12.0 approved the person in motorized wheelchair emoji as part of disability representation expansion.
Advocacy from disability organizations for better representation in emoji.
2020
Widespread adoption across platforms during COVID-19 pandemic as disability discussions increased.
Pandemic highlighted accessibility issues and vulnerable populations.
Cultural Context
The introduction of disability emojis represents a significant step toward digital inclusion and normalized representation of disabled people in everyday communication.
Part of Unicode's effort to create more inclusive emoji options, reflecting the growing awareness of representation gaps in digital communication tools.
The distinction between manual (🧑🦽) and motorized (🧑🦼) wheelchair emojis reflects the disability community's emphasis on specific and accurate representation.
Younger generations tend to use this emoji both literally and as a symbol of inclusion and accessibility advocacy in digital spaces.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Used in discussions about NHS wheelchair services and accessibility in public transport.
United States
Commonly used in disability advocacy contexts and discussions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Primarily used in practical contexts to indicate accessibility needs or features rather than in advocacy messaging.
Gen_Z: Frequently used in activist contexts and social media campaigns about inclusion. Often appears in TikTok content about disability experiences.
Older: Less frequently used, but appears in community announcements and family communications about accessibility requirements.
Millennials: Used in workplace communications about accessibility and in parenting contexts discussing inclusive education and facilities.
Common Combinations
🧑🦼♿
Accessibility symbols used together to emphasize disability access needs or facilities.
Often used in public service announcements or facility information about wheelchair accessibility.
🧑🦼👍
Positive experience as a wheelchair user or approval of accessibility features.
Used to express satisfaction with accessible spaces or successful navigation of environments.
🧑🦼🚫🚶
Indicates spaces that are wheelchair accessible but not designed for walking/standing people.
Used in disability community spaces to indicate priority areas for wheelchair users.