SJCPLS Advocates Inclusion and Accessibility for Those with Color Vision Deficiencies with EnChroma Glasses Giveaway
St. Johns County Public Library System (SJCPLS) has partnered with EnChroma, creators of glasses for color blindness, to promote International Color Blindness Awareness Month. To heighten awareness of the prevalence and effects of Color Vision Deficiency (CVD), SJCPLS will offer library users the opportunity to win two pairs of EnChroma’s color blind glasses in the month of September. In addition, the Library will demonstrate its commitment to accessibility by undertaking activities to:
- Encourage families with kids, and the public, to test their color vision by taking EnChroma’s two-minute color blindness test at enchroma.com.
- Invite color blind people to come to the St. Johns County Public Libraries to try EnChroma glasses for color blindness.
- Educate the public about CVD via media outreach.
- Post to social media about International Color Blindness Awareness Month.
SJCPLS is the only library in Florida, and one of four libraries nationally, who are partnered with EnChroma in their Color Accessibility Program. In December 2019, SJCPLS received a generous grant from the Barbara A. Kay Foundation and added the EnChroma glasses to the collection. These unique glasses use a patented lens technology to show the colorblind brilliant color for the first time. They are available for patrons to check out at any SJCPLS branch library. CVD affects one in 12 men (8%) and one in 200 women (.5%) – an estimated 13 million in the US, 30 million in Europe, and 350 million worldwide.
“During International Color Blindness Awareness Month, EnChroma strives to educate employers, accessibility, safety and human resources directors, and teachers, about Color Vision Deficiency by partnering with other organizations and brands that are committed to accessibility,” said Erik Ritchie, CEO of EnChroma. “We applaud the support of the St. Johns County Public Library System in this worthy endeavor.”
For more information on the giveaway or to learn how to check out a pair of the EnChroma glasses, please visit www.sjcpls.org/library-of-things, email sjcpls@tblc.libanswers.com, or call your local branch library.