Deaf Person 🧏

This emoji portrays a person with a hand near their ear in the sign-language gesture for "deaf." The figure typically has a neutral or friendly expression, and the raised hand positioned by the ear clearly indicates the accessibility and communication context. It's an important symbol of Deaf culture and identity, representing the Deaf community with dignity and specificity.

People use this emoji in conversations about accessibility, Deaf rights, sign language, and inclusive communication. It's employed by Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to identify themselves, and by allies and organizations to signal inclusive or accessible spaces. It might appear in profiles, in discussions about accessibility features, or when mentioning sign language interpreters and Deaf-centered events.

This emoji gained prominence as platforms increasingly committed to accessibility representation. Unlike generic disability symbols, it specifically and respectfully represents Deaf identity and culture. The gesture itself is rooted in American Sign Language (ASL) conventions, making it culturally meaningful within Deaf communities.

Approved as part of Unicode Emoji 12 in 2019, this emoji marked an important milestone in representing Deaf identity with accuracy and respect in digital spaces.