Growing up on a dairy farm in Door County, Shannon Columb always felt more comfortable in nature. After she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at a young age, she says sitting in a classroom could be difficult at times. But when she was done with school for the day, she felt at home exploring the woods and fields surrounding her home. “From an early age, I loved being outdoors,” Shannon says. “Outside, I could see better with my retinitis pigmentosa thanks to the natural lighting. Exploring the outside world was my playground.”
While she started her college career as a journalism major, she soon switched to environmental education so that she could help teach future generations the importance of spending time in nature. With the help of a Council Scholarship, Shannon graduated in 2020 and now works to help design accessible playgrounds across the country with Unlimited Play.
As a Project Manager, Shannon wears many hats. Some days, she works with parents and community members to help fundraise, design and build new inclusive playgrounds. Other days involve traveling to conferences around the nation to talk about the importance of making the outdoors more accessible to all. But every day, she works toward the goal of making the outdoors safer and more welcoming for kids with disabilities.
As someone with low vision herself, Shannon works to make playgrounds a little less frightening for kids who are blind or low vision. That can mean anything from using high contrast colors to make things more visible to adding audible and tactile markers on playground equipment.
“When I was a kid, the playground could be scary because you could be walking by the swings and not know if someone was going to hit you,” Shannon says. “But if we put a spinner on those swings that makes a noise when they move, kids with vision loss can know that those swings are being used and to give them a bit more room.”
Shannon’s Council Scholarship didn’t just help her get the education she needed to land her job with Unlimited Play. It also gave her the confidence to continue her schooling and set ambitious goals. She says the scholarship motivated her to do research outside of her homework and look for jobs that would help others who are blind or low vision. The scholarship also helped connect Shannon to the Council. “Beyond the money, the scholarship introduced me to this amazing resource in my own backyard that I can tap into my entire life,” she says.
As a student with low vision, Shannon admits that school was sometimes difficult. She says that in high school, the world seemed too big and scary for her to be able to contribute in a meaningful way. But that all changed when she went off to college, which she calls the best decision she had ever made. “College is a lot more than just getting your degree,” Shannon says. “It’s about making friends, growing a professional network, having new experiences and learning that you can make your life however you want to make it. I am so happy that I was able to spread my wings and find my passion.”
Applications for 2025 Council Scholarships are currently open for Wisconsin residents who are blind or low vision and are attending a two-year college, four-year university or graduate program. The submission deadline is Friday, March 21. You can find more information and the application materials on the Council Scholarships page of our website.
