Presented By: Kearney Gunsalus, Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership
Co-Authors: DeLoris Hesse, Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership

Purpose
To enhance accessibility by developing a color-coding palette for curricular materials that is accessible to people with the three most common types of color vision deficiency (CVD, or color blindness). CVD affects ~8% of men and 0.5% of women, and impacts perception of a wide range of colors. Color-coding is commonly used to convey information in undergraduate medical education; selection of CVD-accessible color schemes is therefore an important accessibility consideration, yet this topic is sparsely represented in the medical education literature. 

Methods
We are using freely available, validated tools to address this issue. CVD simulators allow people with normal color vision to assess how an image or set of colors would appear to people with different forms of CVD, and colorblind-friendly color palettes have been designed for various uses. The color coding in many of our curricular materials is currently not colorblind-friendly. We chose to start by redesigning the color scheme for our pre-clerkship curriculum calendar because it poses several challenges, including the large number of distinct colors required (14) and the need for contrast between font and background colors.

Results
Using CVD simulators, we identified the pink/lilac/light blue, yellow/green, and red/green in our current color scheme as difficult to distinguish for people with protanopia and deuteranopia (deficiencies in perception of red and green light, respectively). We redesigned the color scheme to ensure accessibility for people with the three most common types of CVD and are offering the CVD palette as a theme for use in curricular and pedagogical materials.

Conclusions
The redesigned color scheme will enhance accessibility for students, faculty, and staff. We will provide faculty development on designing CVD-accessible materials. Further work will evaluate impact on faculty awareness of colorblindness and implementation of tools for CVD-accessible design. This innovation could readily be adopted at other institutions with minimal time and effort.