The True Meaning of Accessibility for a New Salesforce Admin

Inclusion, equality, accessibility – these are all standards Salesforce holds itself to when supporting individuals as they build long-term careers in the ecosystem. For admins, this journey often requires years of dedicated learning, experimentation, and hands-on experience, but how does this journey compare for someone with a visual impairment? 

A new Salesforce Admin based in Michigan has an answer to this question. As a legally blind trailblazer, Tanya Krawford has faced significant challenges as a result of her sight loss, from having to leave her role due to a lack of accessibility, to the frustration that followed as she struggled to find work. Newly qualified, Tanya shares her rewarding and empowering experience of becoming certified in Salesforce and the obstacles she has overcome along the way. 

Digital Accessibility Awareness 

First, let’s talk about awareness – without it, meaningful change simply will not happen. Real awareness goes far beyond conversation, of course, but this is where it all begins. After all, impairments and disabilities are unlikely to be a priority – or even a consideration – for those not affected in their daily lives (myself included). For the majority of able-bodied people, it’s difficult to place yourself at the bottom of a hill you’ve never had to climb. 

We all have our preferences when it comes to learning styles and platforms. Your go-to resource may be a video tutorial where you can pause and replay key steps. Perhaps you enjoy articles that are broken down into bitesize instructions, or even interactive quizzes to test your knowledge in real time. But what would happen if choice was removed from the equation and your preferred channel no longer suited your requirements? 

This is where inclusive and empathetic leadership comes in. For Salesforce, a commitment to understanding the requirements of different abilities has gone a long way towards creating an accessible learning environment – from screen reader support and accessible video captions (via the Help & Training link at the top of any page) to the Trailhead module dedicated to learning about accessibility. 

It’s not just Salesforce putting in the work. Celebrated in May each year, Global Accessibility Awareness Day is designed to “get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access/inclusion and people with different disabilities”. Over a billion people worldwide have a disability, but they are not necessarily being served by today’s technology – there’s still a long way to go.

Tanya’s Success Story: Leading By Example

Having struggled to find work after losing her sight, Tanya found opportunities through Michigan’s Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, and later, the Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) where she is currently working as a Salesforce apprentice.

“I wanted to start a new career as I am hugely driven, motivated and love to make a difference. They introduced me to Salesforce and the Blind Institute of Technology, and I immediately understood the power of Salesforce, having been interested in technology for many years. From there, I learned about Get Force Certified and was inspired to join their Admin Academy to deepen my understanding and skills in Salesforce.

It was a wonderful experience. The founder of Get Force Certified has done a tremendous amount of research and built tools that enable anyone to learn Salesforce. It is inspiring to have been in a group with many people from different backgrounds and abilities. It speaks to Salesforce’s mission on inclusion and equality – I felt so excited to start something new and have a new chance at a bright future career!” Tanya Krawford – Salesforce Admin

Tanya credits the Salesforce Admin Academy at Get Force Certified as a key part of her success. Adapted course content provided Tanya with a tailored learning experience, removing the barriers she would normally come up against:

“The course is thoughtfully designed with accessibility in mind, making it approachable for someone who is blind. I used screen reading software to interact with the course materials, and the instructors were always ready to assist whenever I encountered any barriers. Also, having a fantastic group of classmates with whom I can speak, share ideas and questions, and have ‘Ah-ha’ moments has been so rewarding.”

Community Matters

For many, a visual impairment can be incredibly isolating. Thankfully, Tanya had a supportive community to connect with during her time at the Admin Academy:

“One of the best aspects of the course is the sense of community it fosters among the participants. I also enjoyed the real-world project work, which enhanced my understanding and prepared me for practical admin roles. The interactive elements like quizzes made learning dynamic and engaging, thanks to the accessible technology integrated by our course leader, Dave [Massey].”

Support from the wider community is equally important in advocating for digital accessibility enhancements; seemingly small adjustments can have a big impact, and it’s a shared responsibility to ensure we’re moving in the right direction. 

“Training providers are fundamental to helping the Trailblazer community succeed, especially those just starting out. Salesforce certifications are incredibly hard and it’s wonderful to see instructors dedicated to making their content accessible to everyone.” Christine Marshall – Courses & Technical Content Director at Salesforce Ben

Final Thoughts 

As a newly certified Salesforce Admin, Tanya is ready to carve out a career in the ecosystem where she hopes to find her first role. With an incredible amount of resilience, determination, and positivity, not to mention her new certification, we are sure that Tanya will be a huge asset to any team, and we wish her all the best in her job search. 

If you’d like to learn more about Tanya’s journey, you can reach out to her via LinkedIn. 

“I am hugely passionate about ensuring that people know about what is possible in the Salesforce ecosystem and what you can achieve despite your differences. I want to help others understand there is a place for everyone in Salesforce.”