Virginia’s 43 state parks are the first in the nation to have EnChroma-adapted viewfinders for colorblind people.
The SeeCoast Manufacturing viewfinder that’s equipped with special lenses from EnChroma expands the range of colors for those with Color Vision Deficiency. Reds and greens appear washed out to those with CVD, who see about 10 percent of the colors that others do.
Across the U.S., roughly 13 million are colorblind. Colorblindness, which is genetically passed down from mothers, is more prevalent in men, affecting 1 in 12 men versus 1 in 200 women. About 341,000 of the more than 8 million people visiting Virginia State Parks every year are colorblind.
Natural Tunnel State Park Chief Ranger Ethan Howes, who is colorblind, led the initiative to get the viewfinders, the first of which was installed last year at Natural Tunnel State Park and the rest this year.
“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 lenses will better help colorblind individuals see the beauty of the parks.
At Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, several colorblind people tested out the viewfinders and described the colors as more vibrant, sharper, and more distinct.
“I see a lot of different colors I didn’t recognize,” said Robert Purinton, one of the participants. “It’s so different.”
“The water is not the same color as the trees,” said Bryan Wagner, another colorblind person looking through the viewfinder.
“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 colorblind.”
Feature image of Robert Purinton by Kim Wells/Virginia State Parks
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s News newsletter.
