Donna Posont helps blind people become birders—and whatever else they want to be.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center offers a program called Birding by Ear and Beyond, led by Donna Posont, that aims to make birdwatching accessible to visually impaired individuals. The program teaches participants to identify bird species by their songs and uses plush Audubon birds that play recorded sounds to aid in learning. In addition to birding, the program also focuses on other outdoor activities such as learning about trees and making maple syrup. Posont's approach emphasizes self-reliance and independence for blind individuals. The program has been successful in empowering blind individuals and fostering a connection with nature, while also addressing the challenges faced by blind individuals in accessing birding resources and finding companions. [Extracted from the article]