ABLE is embarking on another exciting new venture: a collaboration with the Wehr Nature Center in Franklin. Knowing that many blind people enjoy birding, we began this partnership when we offered to spread the word about a national birding event held in May. Subsequently, the ABLE team met with staff from the Wehr Nature Center to assess accessibility for people who are blind or low vision. Our initial collaboration with Wehr will include the following:
• A tactile map of the grounds, including hiking paths.
• Braille labeling for Wehr’s existing bird sound boxes, which demonstrate the calls of birds common in this area.
• Audio recordings of noteworthy sites along the walking paths, such as a waterfall and 4 distinct habitats: woodland, wetland, prairie and oak savanna
Group picture of (left to right) Holly Walz (Naturalist/Veterans & Scout Programs Coordinator), Guadalupe Torrijos (ABLE Board Director), Xinyue Hippe (ABLE Board Director), Cheryl Orgas (ABLE Executive Director), Carly Hintz (Wehr Nature Center Director), and Kris Drollinger (ABLE Braille Volunteer)
Picture of Mallard Lake located within Wehr Nature Center, and picture of waterfall at Wehr Nature Center.
Picture of (left to right) Kris Drollinger, Xinyue Hippe, Guadalupe Torrijos, and Cheryl Orgas, posing near the waterfall.