The Ventura Botanical Gardens first in California to support "Color Accessibility" with the installation of a special viewer and EnChroma glasses for colorblind visitors to use.
VENTURA, Calif., May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Ventura Botanical Gardens and EnChroma® – creators of glasses for color blindness – announced this week the installation of a special viewer for colorblind visitors. The Gardens is first botanical gardens in California to have a viewer for color blind visitors onsite, as well as special EnChroma glasses for color blindness for guests to borrow.
Installed at the Merewether site in the Chilean Gardens, this special scope, made by SeeCoast Manufacturing and fitted with EnChroma lenses, is for guests who are red-green colorblind. Many colorblind visitors cannot see the brilliant reds, yellows and oranges in flowering plants such as the Aloe or California Poppy, for example. With this special viewer, those colors can be seen more like non-colorblind visitors see them. Additionally, visitors with color blindness can borrow a limited number of EnChroma glasses at the Merewether Welcome Center and experience the colors in scenic vistas and vibrant, chromatic flora for the first time in their lives.
Sponsored by Mike and Loretta Merewether, the special viewer honors their young granddaughter, Carlie. "We wanted colorblind youngsters and oldsters alike to experience the Gardens in a new way, and to share the way we see it, full of color and drama."
The installation of the viewer, and availability of the glasses, are part of the Ventura Botanical Gardens support for accessibility and inclusivity for visitors. "This new viewer and glasses offer a wider range of visitor experiences and opens the door for guests who previously could not see many of the colors of the Gardens," explains Joe Cahill, Executive Director.
One in 12 men (8%) and one in 200 women (.5%) are color blind; an estimated 13 million in the United States; nearly 1.7 million in California; and 350 million worldwide. While people with normal color vision see over one million shades of color, those with Color Vision Deficiency (CVD) only see an estimated 10% of hues. As a result, colors can appear dull, indistinct, and difficult to discern. To see more images of how color blind people see the colors of the Gardens click here.
"We're so thankful for the Merewether family's generous support and their desire to make the Gardens come alive for those with color vision deficiencies," said Erik Ritchie, CEO of EnChroma. "The availability of both the viewer and EnChroma loaner glasses will make visits to the Gardens even more colorful and memorable for color blind guests. We encourage more gardens, museums, and attractions to incorporate EnChroma into their accessibility plans."
Media Launch Event May 30 @10am
A live press event is scheduled for May 30, Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Gardens. At the event, five local color blind people will be available to discuss how color blindness affects their daily lives, work and ability to fully enjoy the colors of nature. They will then look through the color blind adapted viewers, and try the EnChroma glasses, and describe the experience and answer questions for media.
EnChroma Color Accessibility Program™
EnChroma is the lead advocate for "color accessibility" through its EnChroma Color Accessibility Program™. The program helps over 200 schools, universities, state and national parks, gardens, libraries, museums, and other organizations purchase and loan EnChroma glasses to color blind students and guests. Through partnerships with leading vendors, scenic viewers adapted for the color blind with EnChroma lenses are also available. The program is also open to employers.
About EnChroma
Based in Berkeley, Calif., EnChroma produces leading-edge eyewear for color blindness and low vision, and other solutions for color vision, sold online and through Authorized Retailers worldwide. Invented in 2010, EnChroma's patented eyewear 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. EnChroma ‑ For more information, call 510.497.0048 or visit enchroma.com.
About the Ventura Botanical Gardens
Located at Grant Park in the City of Ventura, the Ventura Botanical Gardens' goals include conserving plant species and encouraging visitors to strengthen their connection to nature.
To find out more, visit the VenturaBotanicalGardens.com and join us on Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Joe Cahill, Executive Director, [email protected], (805) 232-3113, ext. 0.
Barbara Brown, Media Relations and Outreach, [email protected], (805) 216-1473.
Kent Streeb, Vice President of Communications & Partnerships, [email protected], 530.908.9225.
Media Contact
Kent Streeb, EnChroma, 1 5309089225, [email protected]
SOURCE EnChroma
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