How One Employee is Innovating Inclusivity at Dreamforce

Amy Wood has been a Trailblazer since she was five months old. Since receiving her deaf diagnosis, she's navigated a hearing world with resilience and determination — from learning lip-reading to swimming competitively in college. Now, as a Manager of Accessible Events, Amy works on Salesforce's Office of Accessibility to foster a more inclusive and accessible environment for individuals with disabilities. Most recently, this includes creating the Accessibility Guide to Dreamforce.

Learn how she’s integrated her values of inclusivity and accessibility into her career, and how the Accessibility Guide to Dreamforce was born.

The Path to Salesforce

Navigating the hearing world as a deaf person wasn’t always easy for Amy — but it sparked her passion for inclusion today.

“I didn’t grow up around other deaf people, and I was picked on a lot,” shared Amy. “Having to navigate such complex social situations growing up is why I am so passionate about accessibility and inclusion now; I want to create a more equitable world for those who come after me.”

Amy started her professional journey in non-profit management, where she gained valuable experience working with organizations like the National Social Workers Association before moving into finance. But, when she began to look for her next career move, she wanted to get back to her core values.

“I was looking for a company that would not only support me but embrace me — one that would allow me to bring my full, authentic self to work every single day.”

Amy first learned about Salesforce when CEO Marc Benioff publicly opposed a bill that could harm the LGBTQ+ community. His advocacy resonated with her, and she joined Salesforce as an event leader five years ago, where she was able to pursue her passion for creating inclusive, equality-driven experiences experiences.

"Over time, I discovered my true passion for accessibility and joined the Office of Accessibility at Salesforce," shared Amy. "Now, I get to work on creating inclusive experiences and making sure our events and offices are accessible to everyone. It's unbelievably rewarding to see the positive impact of our efforts and to collaborate with a team of dedicated and talented human beings."

Do you want to learn how to create inclusive experiences and events? Take our free Inclusive and Accessible Events trail on Trailhead.

The Road to Dreamforce

As part of Amy's work with the Office of Accessibility, she's reimagining how to make Dreamforce — Salesforce's largest annual gathering in San Francisco, not to mention the world's largest AI event in the world — more accessible for attendees. Enter the Accessibility Guide to Dreamforce.

"The guide highlights not just our commitment to inclusion, but also the innovative accessibility features at Dreamforce," said Amy. "At our events, we go beyond basic compliance, constantly pushing for creative solutions to make events more accessible for people with disabilities."

The guide is designed to empower attendees with disabilities by providing clear, detailed information on accessible features, services, and spaces at Dreamforce. These include:

• A fully staffed Disability Help Desk designed to support guests with visible and invisible disabilities and medical conditions.
• English captioning in all keynote and breakout rooms
  • Did you know captions help more than just those who need them? They also assist attendees who are new to the event's primary language or tuning in from noisy environments, ensuring everyone stays engaged.
• Quiet Zones in three locations
  • Dreamforce’s Quiet Zones are designed to provide a peaceful retreat with comfortable seating and soft lighting, offering a calm space for attendees to recharge and escape overstimulation.
• Adaptive merchandise in our Dreamstore
  • We offer items like compression socks, v-neck t-shirts, and Velcro patches, all designed with accessibility in mind!

"What I love most about my role with the Office of Accessibility is the chance to truly impact people’s lives" said Amy. "It’s incredibly rewarding to work on projects that foster a more inclusive and accessible environment for individuals with disabilities. Seeing the positive ripple effect is what makes this work so meaningful."

Advice for Aspiring Salesforce Employees

Amys' advice to those looking to make a difference and join Salesforce? Go for it. "Salesforce is a great place if you care about joining a company that values its people and makes a positive impact. Salesforce is all about equality, diversity, and inclusion, so you’ll be in a place where you can be yourself and really thrive."