A large ICT company working strategically to train and employ people with visual disabilities

Salesforce’s Workforce Navigators trains professionals with disabilities in CRM software. From 2020-2023, 222 individuals earned certifications in inclusive tech roles.

Salesforce is a U.S. cloud-based software company headquartered in San Francisco providing customer relationship management software and applications. In 2020, Salesforce initiated the Workforce Navigators programme in collaboration with the Blind Institute for Technology. Workforce Navigators supports technical workforce development training for professionals with disabilities, equipping them with Salesforce skills and certifications. Between 2020 and 2023, 222 individuals with disabilities obtained a Salesforce certification. 

Problems Targeted

There is a scarcity of accessible technical workforce development training for individuals with disabilities, which consequently constrains their employment prospects within the technology sector. 

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Salesforce, in collaboration with the Blind Institute for Technology (BIT), located in Denver, Colorado, initiated the Workforce Navigators programme to equip professionals with disabilities with Salesforce skills. Participants receive hands-on training, mentorship, and comprehensive support to attain in-demand certifications. The programme also provides ongoing assistance with resume building, interview preparation, and job placement. Salesforce hosts engaging guest speakers who deliver presentations – free and open to the public – on various topics pertinent to the career search for professionals with disabilities. Additionally, Workforce Navigators offers a mentoring initiative whereby individuals from BIT and other programmes can apply or be referred to be paired with a Salesforce employee mentor for a structured 12-week programme concentrated on career development. The Office of Accessibility at Salesforce administers Workforce Navigators, employing many individuals who self-identify as having a disability. Furthermore, the Workforce Navigators team includes a former BIT instructor, who is a blind screen reader user and now serves as an accessibility technical content writer. The programme also collaborates with team members who use wheelchairs and those with neurodivergent conditions. From 2021 to 2024, 45 individuals with disabilities secured skilled employment through this initiative.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Salesforce funds the initiative and some BIT educational activities, including certifications. Over the next three years grant funding will increase, and Salesforce aims to motivate product managers to prioritize accessibility, aligning with their commitment to digital inclusion.  (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

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At Salesforce Workforce Navigators support the inclusion of employees with disabilities.

At Salesforce Workforce Navigators support the inclusion of employees with disabilities.

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