[blindLaw] Accessibility of Salesforce platform

[Justin Harford]

I am a full-time user of screen readers including voiceover, non-visual desktop access and jaws when I have to. 

The previous nonprofit organization that I worked for used Salesforce, and I found it surprisingly enjoyable. Certain tasks were not that great, such as running reports and uploading spreadsheets of data, but managing records and sending mail merges was pretty accessible.

It’s true that Salesforce uses a lot of customized web elements, but I found that most of those were Accessible. I was also often surprised to find that Salesforce had documentation for screen reader users. According to their documentation, it sounds like support for voiceover and non-visual desktop access is a little bit better.

Another really nice feature of salesforce was the ease of creating scripts using their API. I was able to develop scripts for uploading spreadsheets and running reports, the things which were not accessible otherwise.

I expect that today it would be even easier given the existence of large language models which could probably help you vibe program something.

Sincerely
Justin
Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 19, 2025, at 5:02 PM, Marianne Haas via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> What area do you live in?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Elizabeth Rene via BlindLaw
> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 4:01 PM
> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Elizabeth Rene <rene0373 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [blindLaw] Accessibility of Salesforce platform
> 
> Hello colleagues,
> The state agency for which I work as an industrial Insurance appeals hearings judge has implemented a new, custom tailored case management system built by SalesForce, which I find inaccessible to use with any kind of efficiency. I do have a highly skilled judicial assistant, recently hired, who has been helpful managing many day-to-day tasks using this system, but my assistant chief (Boss) doesn't want me to be entirely dependent upon her. I really don't want to be either. My job involves tight deadlines and multiple, sometimes conflicting demands. When I go online to find Accessibility solutions for this platform, I see nothing but slick, self promotional material from the company itself and nothing from blind people ourselves or our advocacy agencies.
> Have any of you in your practices had better luck with SalesForce or any of its products? I have Heard of the Blind Institute of Technology (BIT), which appears to be an academy sponsored by SalesForce to train and market blind IT technicians, but it looks like nothing much more than a tax shelter. I find nothing about it on the Internet except the same, self promotional Company ads.
> Has anyone found a trainer or IT specialist who can make this platform work with JAWS to keep one competitively productive?
> I'd love to hear your thoughts.
> Thank you very much.
> 
> Elizabeth M René
> Attorney at Law
> WSBA #10710
> KCBA #21824
> rene0373 at gmail.com
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