Wall of Voice

Project Overview

“Wall of Voice” is An interactive auditory wall installation featuring a collection of record stories related to autistic kids. The goal of the project is to invite the public to engage with these voices – by randomly selecting a recording, listeners are encouraged to explore diverse perspectives and foster a deeper understanding of autism.

Launched in 2025, “Wall of Voice” has gained attention of individuals from across Shanghai, and has helped raise public awareness about autism, promoting meaningful dialogue within the community.

Why?

Over the world, approximately 3.2% of kids are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – a figure that is far from negligible and continues to rise each year.

In 2024, I volunteered via my school club to send our customized food package to the autistic children. It was the first time that I’ve ever met them, and surprisingly, they defied the common stereotypes: they weren’t silent, withdrawn, or unwilling to connect. In fact, they talked the same way as I did and seemed to feel the world even more deeply than I did. The only challenge for them was a barrier that prevented them from expressing themselves.

Thus, I started to wonder:

How can we transmit voices that are often overlooked – and how can we help more people truly be heard?

My Role & Contributions

• Conducted background research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on its social perception and barriers to communication
• Collected personal stories from autistic children across various regions in China via online outreach and recorded interviews using professional audio equipment
• Designed and built the first version (prototype) of the wall, integrating curated recordings into an interactive installation
• Organized offline testing sessions with public audiences to evaluate the emotional and education impact of the wall

Results & Impact

The following are several representative instances:

• A seventh-grade girl chose to listen to the tape of the teacher’s recording because there was a boy with autism in her class. Most of her classmates teased him since he would play with his saliva and make a mess on his desk and clothes. However, this girl would always talk to this boy, finding out how lonely he felt when excluded. The girl said she felt very sorry for the boy's mother.
• An Indian family, who didn’t speak Chinese, paused to observe the installation. After we explained the concept and the theme, they were impressed that high school students in Shanghai had created such a thoughtful and creative project. Additionally, although they had heard of autism, they still didn't know much about it. Later, we invited them to the nearby interactive station that combined sound and light to share more of the experience.
• A mother’s eyes turned red after hearing a brief explanation of the wall’s purpose. In fact, even the mere idea of “being heard” could touch people deeply.