2 colorblind metro Detroiters experience color for 1st time at wildlife refuge

Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·4 min read

Some of the things that make the world so beautiful are the vibrant colors surrounding us in paintings, sunsets, and nature. Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to identify radiant shades and hues.

Tim Aepelbacher, 35, of Warren, is a quality monitoring specialist whose colorblindness often affects his work and hobbies.

“I’m a video gamer so unless the video game has colorblind options, I’m at a disadvantage. If the enemies are in red and the green guys are good, it’s hard to tell them apart," he said.

Aepelbacher is one of 425,000 Michiganders diagnosed with colorblindness. Worldwide, around 350 million people are colorblind, and it disproportionately affects men, with 1 in 12 experiencing it.

Tim Aepelbacher, 35 of Warren, shares a laugh with park ranger Tim Weston before Aepelbacher tries on the EnChroma glasses for the first time, enabling him to see in color at the Detroit River International Wildlife Center welcomed on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The wildlife center welcomed two individuals with colorblindness to test out the EnChroma glasses for the first time, which enable colorblind people to see colors more clearly and vibrantly. Three EnChroma glasses will be available for visitors at the wildlife center, including one which allows prescription glasses underneath. Aepelbacher has a red-green color deficiency. At home, Aepelbacher's husband Jesse Capp doesn't allow Aepelbacher to cook meat because he typically can't tell the difference between red and brown.

On Tuesday, Aepelbacher saw colors differently for the first time.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge welcomed Aepelbacher and another colorblind local resident to take in the scenery with the launch of special vision glasses and view scopes, designed to help colorblind visitors see the center more clearly.

EnChroma Glasses are engineered with a unique lens technology that enables individuals with red-green color blindness to see a broader range of colors.

Park ranger Todd Weston said funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was secured to install view scopes at two different locations in Michigan, including the William Milliken State Park and the Humbug Marsh trail.

“Knowing that accessibility is so important, we chose to use some of the funds to put in the ones at Milliken as well as the ones here," he said. “It’s a subtle reality we can add that both is cool for a person but then also keeps the conversation going."

The Detroit River International Wildlife Center welcomed two individuals with colorblindness to test out the EnChroma glasses for the first time, which enable colorblind people to see colors more clearly and vibrantly, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Three EnChroma glasses will be available for visitors at the wildlife center, including one which allows prescription glasses underneath.

Prior to the experience, Aepelbacher said he was both excited and nervous.

“I’m a little nervous just because there’s lots of videos out there online of people putting these on for the first time and getting emotional and so that’s a pretty high bar to expect there could be that kind of reaction," he said. "I’m really excited to see what purple is and what the big deal is because I know that’s a lot of people’s favorite color.”

Michael Dean, 34, of Wyandotte, said he has had red-green color blindness for the entirety of his life and he's learned to adapt.

"I work in the automotive field, so we deal with colors every day. Cars, interior and exterior," he said. "In meetings and stuff, it makes it a little difficult when I’m trying to explain things and say the wrong color but other than that I’ve learned to adapt a little.”

Dean expressed his excitement to try on the glasses, and his wife and two sons were also thrilled.

Michael Dean, 34, tries on the EnChroma glasses, which enable him to see a broader range of colors at the Detroit River International Wildlife Center on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The wildlife center welcomed two individuals with colorblindness to test out the EnChroma glasses for the first time, which enable colorblind people to see colors more clearly and vibrantly. Three EnChroma glasses will be available for visitors at the wildlife center, including one which allows prescription glasses underneath. Dean has a red-green color deficiency and had been curious about the technology for over a decade. "You can definitely see the green," he said.

“I’m excited. I hope it does change. Obviously, I won’t know until I try them on. Even if it changes a little bit and changes the shades a little bit, it’ll be a good feeling," he said.

Dean was the first of the two to try on the lenses and was greeted by a lively and bright surprise.

"The leaves are definitely more green," he said, describing the vibrancy and ability to differentiate between the colors.

“It does bring out the colors and everything," Dean said.

Aepelbacher was up next and was giddy with excitement upon the experience.

“It’s cool. It’s good to see what all the hubbub’s about," he said. "I'm at a loss for words."

Aepelbacher said he was initially skeptical of the experience, but recommends it to others with colorblindness.

Tim Aepelbacher, 35, of Warren, tries on the EnChroma glasses, which enable him to see a broader range of colors at the Detroit River International Wildlife Center on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The wildlife center welcomed two individuals with colorblindness to test out the EnChroma glasses for the first time, which enable colorblind people to see colors more clearly and vibrantly. Three EnChroma glasses will be available for visitors at the wildlife center, including one which allows prescription glasses underneath. Aepelbacher has a red-green color deficiency. At home, Aepelbacher's husband Jesse Capp doesn't allow Aepelbacher to cook meat because he typically can't tell the difference between red and brown. Aepelbacher was impressed after trying the glasses on and experiencing the park's view scope. "I see what all the hubbub is about," he said.

“There was part of me that was like what if I don’t see a difference," he said. “I know EnChroma does a free trial program, so I’d say, look into it. It’s worth it.”

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The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge has two view scopes available on the Humbug Marsh loop. One pair of EnChroma glasses able to fit over prescription lenses are available for use during Visitor Center hours.

The refuge is located in Trenton at 5437 W. Jefferson Ave., and is the seventh Michigan park to partner with EnChroma to increase accessibility.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Enchroma Glasses help colorblind users at Trenton wildlife refuge