Prasan Das
Monday, July 29, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Virginia State Parks is pioneering inclusivity by becoming the first park system in the U.S. to equip all 43 of its locations with EnChroma-adapted viewfinders for colorblind visitors. These viewfinders, manufactured by SeeCoast Manufacturing, feature EnChroma lenses specifically designed to enhance color perception for individuals with red-green Color Vision Deficiency (CVD).
While those with normal color vision can see over one million shades, individuals with red-green CVD perceive only about 10% of hues and shades. Colors containing red and green often appear dull, washed out, and hard to distinguish for them.
“This initiative underscores Virginia’s commitment to enhancing outdoor experiences for all visitors and sets a new standard for state parks nationwide,” said Matt Wells, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages Virginia State Parks. “We’re proud to play a role in opening up a world of vibrant color for colorblind individuals to experience nature like never before.”
The installation of EnChroma-adapted viewfinders at Virginia State Parks began in 2023 with Natural Tunnel State Park, spearheaded by Chief Ranger Ethan Howes, who is colorblind himself. The remaining 42 parks received their viewfinders in 2024.
Funding for the viewfinders came from donations through the Round-Up for Parks Program, which allows visitors to contribute to Virginia State Parks during online or park purchases. Since 2018, nearly $300,000 has been donated by visitors, enhancing park offerings and activities.
“Seeing the world in vibrant color is a gift many of us take for granted,” said Virginia State Parks Director Dr. Melissa Baker. “The EnChroma viewfinders help us create a one-of-a-kind experience for our red-green colorblind visitors and allow them to better enjoy the breathtaking beauty of our state parks.”
To kick off this color accessibility initiative on July 26, six local individuals with red-green color blindness visited Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia. They tested the EnChroma viewfinder and shared their experiences. The group included a medical dispatcher, a carpenter, a policy analyst, a personal trainer, a college student, and a permit specialist, all of whom have red-green color blindness.
“Virginia gives visitors unrivaled access to beautiful forests, breathtaking mountain views, stunning rivers and the renowned colorful leaves in Fall,” said, Erik Ritchie, CEO of EnChroma. “Virginia is truly for lovers of the outdoors but it’s also for lovers of color too. That’s why we applaud Virginia State Parks for working with EnChroma to make its colorful beauty more accessible to those who are red-green color blind.”
One in 12 men (8%) and one in 200 women (0.5%) are colorblind. In the U.S. alone, 13 million people are affected, with 350 million colorblind individuals worldwide. With over 8 million annual visitors to Virginia State Parks, approximately 341,000 of them are colorblind.
Virginia State Parks has joined over 400 organizations globally in supporting colorblind guests by installing SeeCoast viewfinders with EnChroma lenses or providing EnChroma glasses. This initiative includes nearly 100 state and national parks across 25 states. The patented lenses feature special optical filters that help people with red-green color blindness perceive a broader spectrum of colors. EnChroma glasses are designed for individuals with deuteranomalous and protanomalous CVD. While not a cure for color blindness, they are effective for about eight out of 10 people with red-green color blindness, with varying results and reaction times. A study by the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio highlighted the benefits of these glasses.
