Kristopher Crawley, Board Member

Email: KICrawley.NFB@gmail.com

Kristopher Crawley is a practicing Muslim, a devoted husband, and the proud father of 5 children, with a 6th child expected in December. His faith and family are the foundation of his life, shaping his values, leadership, and his commitment to service, equity, and personal growth. Everything he does, whether professionally, personally, or within the blindness community, is rooted in a belief that with the right support and expectations, blind people can achieve full independence and live the lives they want.

Kris’s path to leadership and advocacy was shaped early on by both opportunity and adversity. His introduction to non-visual learning came in the 2nd grade where he was first exposed to Braille. This was a skill that he enjoyed because it was the first time that he was able to access text without relying on vision. He quickly became a fluent and enthusiastic reader. By the 3rd grade, he was a speed reader, absorbing material with ease and confidence. But even as his skills grew, the environment around him did not support their use. He was discouraged from reading Braille in class, not because he lacked the ability to keep pace with other students, but because school staff feared the cruelty of his peers and wanted him to appear what they perceived to be “normal.”

This decision came at a cost. Print access was inefficient and physically taxing. He experienced frequent migraines, nausea, and fatigue from trying to keep up with reading assignments visually. Despite his proven ability to read Braille, the school refused to provide accessible formats or meaningful accommodations. Instead, they categorized him as a student with a learning disability and placed him in a classroom for children with cognitive delays. The issue wasn’t a lack of intelligence, it was a lack of access. That misplacement followed him for the rest of his schooling.

Kris struggled with the low expectations of others early on, but found ways to teach himself the skills he wanted to learn. At 16, after being denied the opportunity to participate in keyboarding class due to misconceptions about blindness, he taught himself how to type. Soon after, he began learning how to build websites and explore digital tools on his own, using a WebTV machine as his first internet-enabled system. These early acts of self-teaching, born out of necessity, became his gateway into access technology. Yet it wasn’t until he received formal training in Virginia that he was introduced to screen readers, a pivotal moment that would shape his career, his leadership, and his future.

Before pursuing his professional training in blindness rehabilitation, Kris built a successful presence in the world of combat sports journalism. Beginning in 2009, he hosted FightNation Radio, an internet radio show that developed a loyal following well before SiriusXM later launched its combat sports channel under the same name. His work earned him access to many of the sport’s top athletes, including interviews with former UFC champions such as Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Tyron Woodley, and Germaine de Randamie. Known for his balanced and thoughtful approach to coverage, he was dubbed “the voice of reason” by former New York State Boxing Commissioner Randy Gordon.

Kris’s work in combat sports was deeply rooted in his own martial arts background. Having trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Judo, and Russian Sambo, he developed a strong understanding of the technical and strategic aspects of fighting. This personal experience gave him a unique voice in the media space and helped him build credibility with athletes, coaches, and fans alike. His love for mixed martial arts was born not just from watching the sport, but from actively participating in its disciplines and understanding its demands on a deep level.

During this time, Kris was also a recurring guest on SiriusXM’s Fight Club, where he was frequently invited to share his analysis in the lead-up to major MMA events. His measured commentary and deep understanding of the sport led to him being considered for a hosting role on the SiriusXM Fight Club team. While the opportunity was significant, Kris ultimately chose to turn it down as he prepared to begin his training at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired. His time in combat sports media earned him awards and recognition while writing for respected outlets such as Combat Press and Cageside Press, and laid an early foundation for his skills in interviewing, communication, and public engagement, skills that would later strengthen his impact as an educator, advocate, and leader.

Kris received formal blindness training at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired (VRCBVI) in 2013, where he encountered structured discovery for the first time. That experience reframed blindness not as a limitation, but as a characteristic, and gave him the tools, confidence, and clarity to live and lead with purpose. It became the foundation for his professional life, where he would go on to empower others through the same methods that helped him reclaim his independence. His time at VRCBVI not only gave him the skills to thrive professionally, but also the confidence to build a life of his own choosing. He went in expecting to pursue a career in the Business Enterprise Program (BEP), but within a few weeks, something began to shift.

One month into his program, Kris was invited to begin tutoring other students in Braille. Shortly after, he was asked to support his peers in cane travel and access technology. These early opportunities to teach revealed something new, a natural ability to explain, encourage, and lead. The center staff took notice. During one of his access technology classes, his instructor turned to him and said, “You can do this job.” That simple statement planted a seed that would eventually grow into a successful career as an access technology instructor.

Around the same time, Kris was given a copy of The Blind Need Not Apply by his cane travel instructor, a book that explored the history of discrimination against blind workers. The timing was perfect. As he absorbed the book’s message and reflected on his own growth, he realized that he wasn’t passionate about managing vending operations, he was passionate about teaching. His time at VRCBVI gave him not only technical skills and renewed confidence, but also a vision for the kind of impact he could have on others.

That vision continued to take shape when Kris joined the National Federation Of The Blind while in Virginia. The Federation’s philosophy of high expectations and personal agency matched what he was learning through structured discovery. He found a community that didn’t ask blind people to conform or hide, but instead encouraged them to lead, speak, and advocate. It wasn’t just an organization, it was a movement that reflected the direction his life was beginning to take.

In 2014, after completing his training at VRCBVI, Kris moved to Florida to begin building his life with his wife and young family. With a clear sense of purpose and a growing passion for teaching, he began actively seeking work as an access technology instructor. Despite his qualifications and dedication, opportunities proved difficult to secure. Many vendors declined to hire him, citing a perceived conflict of interest due to his wife’s position as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

Refusing to be discouraged, he turned to entrepreneurship. Drawing on the non-visual skills and problem-solving mindset he developed through structured discovery, Kris began studying digital marketing, exploring e-commerce, and started developing websites on multiple platforms. This journey not only kept his skills sharp, but broadened his understanding of digital accessibility, business systems, and the evolving role of technology in modern employment. Kris accepted a job as a digital marketer for the T-Shirt King of Florida before eventually being hired on to teach technology for a vendor of the VR agency, and took full advantage of the opportunity.

Although he remained loosely connected to the NFB during his years in Florida, he lacked the guidance and mentorship that had helped ground him during training. Without strong direction or support in the affiliate, Kris's active participation diminished over the years. This would change when he and his family moved further north.

In 2019, Kris and his family relocated to South Carolina when his wife was appointed VR Director for the state. Kris continued his work as an access technology instructor, teaching blind adults the tools they needed to live and work independently, this time for the SC Commission For The Blind. A few years later he moved into a new role of transition specialist under Successful Transitions, a program coordinated by the NFB of South Carolina. In this position, Kris worked directly with blind and low vision students across the state, both in school settings and through community-based instruction. The role allowed him to challenge assumptions not only held by students but also by educators and support staff. Through real-world modeling of non-visual techniques and honest conversations about blindness, he helped many students begin to see themselves as capable, independent individuals. In doing so, he also helped shift the perspectives of teachers and administrators who, in many cases, had never seen blind professionals in action.

Kris’s reengagement with the Federation began after a conversation with a colleague who encouraged him to reconnect with the movement. When he learned that the Federation had established the Blind Muslims Group as part of its commitment to diversity and inclusion, his interest deepened. He quickly found himself drawn back into the organization’s philosophy and work, this time with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity.

Kris became actively involved in the group’s work and quickly took on a leadership role in several initiatives. Through the Blind Muslims Group’s Braille Committee for example, he helped lead efforts to expand access to Islamic materials for blind individuals. This included providing free Braille Qur’ans to blind Muslims and, through collaboration with International Braille Qur’an Services (IBQS), Islam By Touch, and Braille instructors from around the world, supported in organizing Arabic Braille literacy training for members of the community. These efforts brought together individuals from across the globe and reflected the Federation’s broader mission to empower blind people through literacy, language, and cultural access.

Kris now serves as a board member for Islam By Touch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Islamic materials accessible to the blind community. His involvement in this work reflects both his faith and his continued commitment to expanding access through inclusive leadership, thoughtful partnerships, and the power of Braille.

In the South Carolina affiliate, Kris's leadership grew steadily. Over the years he was asked to serve in many capacities, including being appointed as co-chair of several committees such as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Membership Committee, and the Social Media and Public Relations Committee. He used these roles to strengthen community connections and elevate the affiliate’s presence. He was later elected president of the South Carolina Communities of Faith Division, becoming the first and only Muslim to lead a faith-based division within the Federation. In that role, he drew on his experience as a former Baptist Christian, practicing Muslim, and student of comparative religion to foster meaningful dialogue across faith lines while reinforcing the Federation’s values of diversity, unity, and self-determination.

Kris also helped found the South Carolina Association of Blind Black Leaders, a bold and intentional initiative designed to re-engage African American members into the movement and create opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and community-building. It remains the only state-level division affiliated with the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders and stands as a model for cultivating inclusive and sustainable leadership within the Federation. 

In 2021, Kris was invited by President Mark Riccobono to deliver the Muslim invocation during the National Federation of the Blind’s National Convention, a moment of visibility, faith, and inclusion that reflected the Federation’s evolving strength through diversity. In 2022, he was elected to the affiliate board of the NFB of South Carolina, further establishing his commitment to organizational development and inclusive leadership.

In pursuit of deeper involvement with structured discovery and excellence in blindness rehabilitation, Kris moved to Arizona in 2023 to accept a position as an Access Technology Instructor at SAAVI Services for the Blind. The move was driven by his desire to work in an environment that embraced structured discovery as a foundational training model. After years of working in conventional rehabilitation settings, where instruction often centered on residual vision and lowered expectations, Kris was drawn to SAAVI’s mission to become a nationally certified structured discovery center through the National Blindness Professional Certification Board. The philosophy behind that certification aligned perfectly with his personal values and instructional approach.

Professionally, Kris has spent the majority of his career as an access technology instructor, teaching the blind how to leverage access technology and mainstream applications like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace to achieve their personal and professional goals. His teaching style is rooted in structured discovery, emphasizing non-visual access, self-confidence, and real-world problem solving. He is deeply invested in helping blind people build lasting independence, not just technical skills.

Today, Kris serves as the Assistant Director at SAAVI Services for the Blind in Phoenix Arizona, a nationally certified structured discovery training center, and one of the premier blindness rehabilitation programs in the country. In this role, he supports staff development, helps shape and refine curriculum, builds collaborative relationships with vocational rehabilitation partners, and ensures that the center continues to provide high-quality, meaningful training to blind adults. His work ensures that the blind are prepared not just for employment, but to live full and active lives.

Kris is also a participant of two national leadership development initiatives through the National Federation of the Blind. He is a graduate of the Kenneth Jernigan Leadership in Service Program (KJLSP), where he worked alongside a cohort of emerging leaders to develop the skills, perspective, and service ethic required to guide the future of the Federation. In addition, Kris has been accepted into the IEP Advocacy Academy, where he trains to support families of blind children navigating the special education system. Drawing on his own school experiences, as well as those of his own children, Kris now serves as a powerful advocate in IEP meetings, pushing for access, Braille literacy, and proper support for blind students.

Beyond instruction and advocacy, Kris is a published author and entrepreneur. His work spans digital marketing, consulting, and business development. He has created comprehensive, structured training programs for a variety of technologies and organizations, as well as standalone courses and learning management system (LMS) integrations for blind professionals and students. His work supports access technology instructors across the country, and he is recognized for his ability to blend practical teaching with the philosophical foundation of structured discovery. His work is used across platforms, and he is frequently sought out for consultation on curriculum design and instructional best practices.

Kris also holds multiple certifications in access technology and digital accessibility, further equipping him to address the evolving needs of blind individuals, organizations, and public-facing platforms in the digital age.

Kris’s passions within the Federation remain rooted in communication and mentorship. He continues to serve in multiple leadership roles. He is the secretary of the National Assistive Technology Trainers Division, 2nd vice president of the East Valley Chapter of the NFB of Arizona, and chair of the Communications Committee for the Arizona affiliate. He also serves on the National Membership Committee, where he brings his perspective as a teacher, leader, and parent to the ongoing effort of building a stronger, more connected movement. 

Kris continues his work on a national mentorship initiative designed to support members at all levels, from new members, to veteran federationists, to leaders (whether appointed or elected) within the movement, ensuring that no one within the organization is left without guidance or community.

Whether he is leading staff, teaching a student, mentoring a member, supporting a family, or serving on a board, Kristopher Crawley’s work is rooted in the same guiding truth: with high expectations, proper training, and belief in their abilities, blind people can and do live the lives they want. His career, his leadership, and his personal journey all reflect that conviction.