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Are there any VNs where a character is somehow unwilling/incapable to speak and uses nonverbal cues to communicate? If there are, do they portray the subject with respect or use it as a gimmick?

Bonjour! Shizune from Katawa Shoujo is a great example (and the only that I have) of a mute character. She's portray with a lot of respect, just like the other characters of the game. Do someone have another example?

I can think of a spoilery version in a popular VN but I dont want to say what it is because it's only in one route.

In the game Steins;Gate, the character Kiryuu Moeka is depicted as having sociophobia.

While mainly a gimmick and in one branch, a plot motivator, the story does depict it in a fairly respectful manner.

They do, and they're done through just the writing and not visual. It would take a lot of time and effort for a character to actually be able to speak sign language, because you'd have to have an artist draw them all out individually.