(SHANGHAI) — China has the largest population of people with disabilities in the world—85 million people are registered as having a disability, although the actual number is believed to be much higher. But disabled people aren’t seen often in schools, public spaces, and in workplaces. 

The Chinese government is trying to change that, by ramping up efforts to bring more people with disabilities into workplaces. Their latest three-year action plan, released in July of this year, includes improving education and barrier-free facilities. But oftentimes it is not only the physical barriers that make it hard for people with disabilities to enter the workplace, there are social barriers too. 

Meet Liu Yi, a Chinese graphic designer who is deaf. He organizes “empathy walks” to help hearing people understand what everyday life is like for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. 

During the walks, participants put on noise-cancelling headphones, learn some basic sign language, and then walk with Liu Yi on the streets of Shanghai to try to understand what it is like to navigate the hearing world without being able to use verbal speech. Later they reflect on the experience and try to come up with inclusive solutions to design challenges. 

Minki Chang, who started MustardTek, the design studio where Liu Yi works, says he and his colleagues are working to make the world more inclusive for people with disabilities. Ultimately, he says, the goal is to build a society where more people are proactive about finding ways to collaborate and communicate with people with disabilities. “With understanding comes empathy and with empathy comes inclusion,” he says. “And with inclusion we can create a sense of belonging for everyone.” 

For Liu Yi, creating connection in this way is also empowering. “This makes me feel like I’m not just designing, I’m also building community,” he says.