Welcome to 5 Questions, a series where we sit down with members of the Ability Central team and learn more about their background, the work they do, and the impact they’re making. Today we sit down with Craig Warren, a Salesforce Consultant and Accessibility Specialist on our Cloud Consulting team.
The Questions
Tell us more about yourself. How did you get where you are today?
When I graduated college, I wanted to be a music therapist to help people with the healing power of music. I call myself a professional career changer, because I’ve switched fields several times in the last decade, all due to accessibility barriers I’ve faced.
As a music therapist, I worked in a large mental health institution. Every day I’d lead music, recreation, or art sessions with groups or with individuals, and after each interaction, I would write notes on what took place. While I worked there, the hospital switched from one Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system to a new one. I found out the new system wasn’t accessible with my screen reader. This meant I was no longer able to work independently, and I had to type up my notes in a Word doc and rely on colleagues to copy in my notes for me.
I’ve also worked in marketing and HR, and each time I’ve encountered things I couldn’t do because the software wasn’t built for blind users. Those experiences made me want to remove these barriers for others.
What role has disability played in your life?
I was born visually impaired, and I used to be able to see shapes and read large, 48-point font print when I was growing up. As a teen, I gradually lost my vision, and now all I can see is the light on a sunny day. I’ve also gradually developed hearing loss and tinnitus, and I use hearing aids.
I use a screen reader to access the computer and my phone. I also use a Braille display. When I’m traveling outside, I use a white cane.
How did you get involved with Salesforce and your role at Ability Central?
I graduated from my MBA program in December 2019, and as I was looking for work, the pandemic happened. I discovered Salesforce by accident, and I was fortunate to get offered a spot in the Trailhead Virtual Bootcamp for the Admin certification. My career took a different direction for a while, and then I was fortunate to have the opportunity to consult for the Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) in 2022. I knew I wanted to work in Salesforce full-time, and Ability Central was willing to take a chance on me.
Why is the work you do at Ability Central important to you?
I love helping our nonprofit clients because they’re helping improve the lives of people with disabilities. When I solve a problem for a client with Salesforce, they get excited because it saves them time or helps get them the info they need to do fundraising or apply for grants.
As the accessibility expert on my team, I get to be the one to say “This tool isn’t accessible” or to test for accessibility bugs in a new tool we’re evaluating. I think it’s a really exciting time to be a professional with a disability, but at the same time, there’s still work to be done.
What do you hope to achieve through your work here?
My hope is that I can make the online world a more accessible, inclusive place. I hope I can spread the message that accessibility is important.
Learn more about Craig and the work Cloud Consulting is doing.
