Virginia State Parks Innovate with Colorblind-Accessible EnChroma Seekers

EnChroma-equipped viewfinders now available in 43 Virginia State Parks
Improves the outdoor experience for colorblind visitors
Funded by the Round-Up for Parks program
The first state parks system in the country to implement this technology

Bringing color to life

Virginia State Parks has set a national precedent by installing EnChroma custom viewfinders at all 43 of its locations. These advanced viewfinders, manufactured by SeeCoast Manufacturing, feature custom EnChroma lenses designed to expand the range of colors visible to people with red-green Color Vision Deficiency (CVD). While people with normal color vision can perceive over a million hues, people with red-green CVD can only see about 10%. This can cause colors to appear dull and difficult to distinguish.

Matt Wells, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, emphasized Virginia’s commitment to improving outdoor experiences for everyone. He said they are proud to introduce the vibrant colors of nature to the colorblind, setting a new standard for state parks across the country.

Improving the visitor experience

Chief Ranger Ethan Howes spearheaded the initiative to install these specialized viewfinders at Natural Tunnel State Park by 2023. By 2024, all 42 other parks were equipped with these EnChroma-customized devices, thanks to donations through the Round-Up for Parks Program. Since its inception in 2018, the program has raised nearly $300,000 for various park improvements.

Dr. Melissa Baker, Director of Virginia State Parks, explained how the EnChroma seekers create unforgettable experiences for visitors who are colorblind to red and green:

Seeing the world in vibrant color is a gift that many of us take for granted. The EnChroma viewfinders help us create a unique experience for our red-green colorblind visitors, allowing them to better appreciate the breathtaking beauty of our state parks.

To mark the launch of this initiative, six local individuals with red-green CVD visited Pocahontas State Park and shared their experiences using the EnChroma viewfinder. Their responses highlighted the profound impact of seeing nature in vibrant color for the first time.

Erik Ritchie, CEO of EnChroma, praised Virginia State Parks for their efforts:

Virginia offers visitors unparalleled access to beautiful forests, breathtaking mountain views, beautiful rivers, and the famous colorful leaves of fall. Virginia is truly for lovers of the outdoors, but it is also for lovers of color. That’s why we applaud Virginia State Parks for partnering with EnChroma to make its colorful beauty more accessible to those with red-green colorblindness.

EnChroma Custom Viewfinder at Claytor Lake State Park

A step towards inclusivity

8% of men and 0.5% of women are color blind
13 million Americans and 350 million people worldwide are color blind
Virginia State Parks receive more than 8 million visitors annually, 341,000 of whom are colorblind

EnChroma lens technology

More than 400 organizations support color blind guests with EnChroma lenses or glasses
Nearly 100 state and national parks in 25 states use this technology
EnChroma lenses have optical filters for red-green color blindness
Glasses are effective in 80% of people with deuteranomalous and protanomalous CVD
No cure, but they improve the visible color spectrum