Natural Tunnel State Park is the first organization in the state of Virginia to offer an EnChroma viewfinder for colorblind people. The viewfinder, made by SeeCoast Manufacturing, is equipped with special lenses from EnChroma designed to help those with red-green Color Vision Deficiency (CVD) experience colors.
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Normal color vision versus color blind view of scenery at Natural Tunnel State Park in Virginia (Graphic: Business Wire)
Chief Ranger of Visitor Experience Ethan Howes, who is colorblind, spearheaded the initiative to purchase the viewer. It was installed recently at the park’s gazebo, which overlooks Rye Cove and provides a stunning 360-degree view.
“Natural Tunnel State Park is proud to be the first location in Virginia to offer accommodations for red-green colorblind guests,” said Howes. “This viewer will allow park visitors with red-green colorblindness to more fully experience the splendors nature has to offer. Being colorblind, I am looking forward to seeing the colorful fall foliage this year.”
Colorblindness affects one in 12 men and one in 200 women: 350 million people worldwide, 13 million in the U.S. and roughly 365,500 in Virginia. While people with normal color vision see over one million shades of color, those CVD only see an estimated 10% of hues and shades. Common color confusions include green appearing yellow, tan or gray; pink looking gray; purple like blue; and red viewed as brown.
The cutting-edge EnChroma technology — in use at nearly 40 state and national park locations in 16 states — is available at Natural Tunnel State Park year-round. The experience of looking through the viewfinders for a person who is colorblind can vary. Typically, they see a broader array and greater vibrancy of colors immediately or within seconds. Some visitors have a more dramatic experience, depending on the severity of their CVD.
Click here for more scenes from Natural Tunnel State Park as they appear to colorblind people.
“Natural Tunnel State Park bursts with colorful foliage that a sizable percent of the population cannot appreciate because they’re color vision deficient,” said Erik Ritchie, CEO of EnChroma. “We applaud the park for being a leader in promoting accessibility to this wonderful, color experience for color blind visitors, and hope their example will inspire other parks in Virginia, and the nation, to follow suit.”
EnChroma is the lead advocate for “color accessibility” through its EnChroma Color Accessibility Program™. The program helps public venues such as schools, parks, libraries, museums, tourism bureaus, resorts and other organizations purchase EnChroma viewfinders and glasses for colorblindness to help students and guests better understand schoolwork that involves color, and make colorful exhibits, attractions and experiences more accessible to the colorblind. Through the program, EnChroma donates a pair of glasses for each pair an organization buys to loan to the public or to students. State and federal parks in sixteen states, spanning nearly 40 locations, already partner with EnChroma to make visits by color blind guests more ‘color accessible’ and memorable.
About Virginia State Parks
Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to reserve one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.
About EnChroma
Based in Berkeley, Calif., EnChroma produces leading-edge eyewear for colorblindness and low vision, and other solutions for color vision, sold online and through Authorized Retailers worldwide. Invented in 2010, EnChroma’s patented eyewear for colorblindness combines the latest in color perception, neuroscience and lens innovation to improve the lives of people with color vision deficiency around the world. EnChroma received an SBIR grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It earned the 2016 Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration in recognition of the firm’s innovative impact on the human experience through technology, and the 2020 Innovation Award in Life Sciences from the Bay Area’s East Bay Economic Development Alliance. For more information call 510-497-0048 or visit enchroma.com.
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Contacts
Virginia State Parks
Starr Anderson, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 540-460-1540, starr.anderson@dcr.virginia.gov
EnChroma
Kent Streeb, Vice President of Communications and Partnerships, 530.908.9225, kent@enchroma.com
