Susan Sanderson is shining star to members of the Blind of Central Missouri chapter

Susan Sanderson has been a beacon of light for the region’s blind citizens for 16 years.
The 60-year-old lifelong Sedalia resident does a little bit of everything for the Blind of Central Missouri chapter, which was organized in the 1970s.

She acts as the group’s treasurer, organizes the annual Missouri Council for the Blind convention and helps out with transportation when she can.

“I wear many hats,” Sanderson said. “Whatever needs to be done, I try to do it.”
BCM President Linda Gerken appreciates everything Sanderson does.

“She does a lot for us,” Gerken said. “Being the treasurer involves lots of paperwork. ... She helps with transportation. ... She puts in a lot of time and hours that we don’t ever see.”

The state convention is Sanderson’s biggest assignment each year. After a location is determined, she visits hotels to make sure the facilities are accessible to those with disabilities, and that the staff feels comfortable helping the group’s members throughout their stay.

“A lot of our people aren’t just blind, they’re multihandicapped,” Sanderson said.

BCM is hosting this year’s convention in October. However, Sedalia doesn’t have enough handicap-accessible lodging, so the convention will be in Jefferson City, according to Gerken.

Some of the group’s funds come from United Way, but the Central Missouri chapter also raises money through fundraisers, such as candy bar sales and quilt raffles.

“I know we’re the lowest one on the scale,” Sanderson said of the pecking order for United Way. “We so appreciate what they give because we need to have transportation for our people. I’ll drive people to meetings. I’ll pick them up for get-togethers like picnics. We go to camp. I’ll drive several down there.”

The Missouri Council for the Blind holds two weeks of summer camps in Cuba, Mo.

“The Missouri Council pays for the biggest part of it,” Sanderson said. “Our local organization pays for half of what the individual is supposed to pay.”

Sanderson calls the summer camps family-oriented get-togethers. BCM also holds a weekend camp for adults only in September.

“It kind of gives parents ... a freedom, and the older ones that don’t have any kids (a chance) to hang out and be kids themselves,” Sanderson said.

However, the fellowship for its members at monthly meetings and other get-togethers is the most important benefit of being a BCM member, Sanderson said. During each meeting, people offer support, advice and often bring ideas or items that can help others, according to the BCM’s website. The fellowship is especially important for newly blind people.
“They think the world has ended. They get their keys taken away from them. They can’t drive,” Sanderson said.
Many members learn to thrive in the community.
“Some of them are just amazing with what they do,” Sanderson said. “We’ve had one who was a manager at a radio station. (Nationally), we’ve had lawyers. Of course, there was a chiropractor down in Windsor that was blind. Everybody knows about Dr. Palmer, I think. That’s what I’ve learned. That they don’t sit back and feel sorry for themselves.”
BCM has 48 members, with the majority being blind or visually impaired. Fifty-one percent of the membership must be sight-impaired, and all officers except treasurer must be blind.
The Missouri Council has around 700 members and 25 affiliated clubs. The Sedalia group represents people in Pettis, Johnson, Saline and others counties in west central Missouri.
“I personally have gotten so much from them, more than I’ve ever given them,” Sanderson said of the BCM membership. “They’ve told me that they couldn’t do it without us. ... I have, in return, received so much, just in my inner self.”