Mia Warren aimed to make museum visits more accessible after learning from a visually impaired friend that those individuals do not have the same museum experiences as sighted people. She partnered with the East Tennessee Historical Society to create special QR codes that offer detailed descriptions of the space and indicators to help people navigate safely. The program also allows the text to be recorded into other languages. She earned a prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award in 2024 for her MIA: Museums Increasing Accessibility project.

Gold Award Girl Scouts are rock stars, role models and real-life heroes who address issues they’re passionate about by using everything they’ve learned as a Girl Scout to solve an issue. They plan and implement projects that produce lasting change in the community and beyond. It is the Girl Scouts’ highest honor.

One Girl Scout’s spark of an insightful idea is helping visually impaired guests at the Museum of East Tennessee History and other organizations may follow, since the museum plans to share Mia’s program with museums throughout the state.

Inspired by her friend, Campbell, who is legally blind, Mia invested 194 hours to find ways to help visually impaired people experience museums independently.

Then a student at Karns High School, Mia researched and created descriptions for the exhibits, visited the museum to walk through to help determine the best logical route for visually impaired guests (her favorite part of the project), then had signs created and installed. The project moniker also is a clever acronym that spells her name – something that will forever tie her to the project.

Mia learned about teamwork and efficiency in coordinating with others to complete the project, and she received abundant recognition when the project was completed. This article on the East Tennessee History Center website provides more in-depth information about the accessibility program. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs presented Mia with a proclamation recognizing her and establishing Mia Warren Appreciation Day. She also was interviewed and featured in stories by local media outlets.

Now in her first year at The University of Tennessee, Mia enjoys spending time with her cousin, Allison, dance, band, gardening, reading and sleeping.

Congratulations, Mia! Visit girlscoutcsa.org to learn more.