[Massachusetts-NFB] Member to Member Getting to Know Each Other

[Bronwen Tedesco]

Welcome to this edition of Member to Member! Today, we will get to know Sandra Burgess, member of the Springfield and At Large chapters.

Sandra was born and raised as an only child in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was born with a rare eye condition called Peters, an eye condition characterized by layers of cloudy skin covering the corneas. She was first aware of her blindness when she was in first grade and older kids made fun of her for being blind.

Sandra attended public school until seventh grade, continuing her schooling at Perkins. While she was in public school, her mother woke up early to slate her work . She learned braille in first grade using pegs as dots to teach her, but was not taught uncontracted braille. “My school had a spelling b and I got everything wrong. My teacher asked me how to spell father. I said dot five f, and couldn’t figure out why I was wrong,” she said while reflecting on that experience.

After graduating from Perkins, she attended Springfield College, receiving a bachelors degree in psychology. After graduating, she worked at Sears for almost two years in sales calling people who purchased appliances, following up on their satisfaction with them, if they needed anything else, and compared prices. She got the manual in braille and the numbers of customers before each shift. After working at Sears, she worked briefly at an insurance company, then MAB (now MABVI) as the volunteer coordinator, then at a mental health center as a clinician with clients of different ages, then later returned to Springfield College, receiving a masters degree in social work,.

During her time as a volunteer coordinator with MAB, she learned about the NFB. When she first participated, there were skits giving examples of how the NFB changes lives, and demonstrations of various assistive technology that motivated her to remain involved. She attended her first state convention in the early 2000s. When asked if she had any advice for anyone who has recently lost their sight or joined the NFB, she said, It’s a good thing to start attempting to learn and do things, even though you have to do things a different way.”

Sandra currently lives independently in Springfield in the house she grew up in. She enjoys volunteer work and going on her computer. It has been great getting to know you, Sandra! Stay tuned for the next Member to Member!

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day and week!

Sincerely,
Bronwen