Motivational Speaking

Dennis talks about how his faith has strengthened him throughout his 36 year ordeal of fighting blindness.   He talks about living with challenges and overcoming those challenges to have a productive life.  

Dennis currently  serves on 

• Missouri Housing Development Trust Council
• The State Rehabilitation Council ~ governor appointed



Dr. Atkins had the great opportunity in October 2012 to be hired as the Executive Director/CEO for Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence in Viburnum, Missouri. Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence is a large, rural non-profit organization that provides services annually for over 2,000 individuals with disabilities. Dennis has established a home in the Viburnum area by purchasing 12 1/2 acres and building a new house. His new career as Executive Director/CEO gives him daily the opportunity to encourage and motivate others that are facing huge life challenges.

Dennis was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in July 1979.   The eye disease started with night blindness, destroyed his peripheral vision and finally the central vision.   Dennis can no longer see faces or read print.  His vision has diminished to only distinguishing light and dark. While fighting the eye disease he has continued to run, which he started in April 1978.   He still runs in unassisted, on his own daily, averaging between 8 - 9 miles per day.   Recently, he has surpassed 97,000 mile mark, working towards 100,000 mile goal!   To his credit, he has run 83 marathons and numerous half marathons.   Many of these marathons have been for charity,  raising money to help individuals with disabilities continue to live in their homes.   With the accomodation of speaking engagements and community fundraising events and running events, he has raised over $200,000.00 for charity. All the money received by Dr. Atkins for speaking events have been donated. The special fundraising events have allowed organizations to be used to build wheelchair ramps, widen doors, purchase wheelchairs and  lift chairs, and  to make  home modifications which  allow an individual to choose  to continue to live in their own home. The annual Viburnum Community Fundraising Event has helped fund our Backpack Program serving currently 51 children, purchase winter coats, boots, hats, gloves and tennis shoes for 51 children in need and purchase school supplies for over 180 kids yearly.

"Dennis Atkins is a runner because it's something he can do well.  It sounds odd, but blindness limits his other entertainment options.  He can't jump in a car and go shopping; reading books or magazines isn't very practical; focusing on television is difficult (though he attempts this for Chiefs or Rams games).  So - for fun - Dennis runs.  He runs outside on a pre-determined route that he's run a thousand times before.  It whiles away the time and it makes him feel good.    Despite his disability, Dennis Atkins continued to work as a branch claims manager at American Family Insurance for over thirty four  years.  He never stopped working and learning.   In 2012 he retired from American Family.  He is available for motivational speaking engagements.   Dennis earned a degree from Missouri Western in 1977.   He has since completed his MBA and Doctorate of Business Administraton  at accredited schools by correspondence, while legally blind."       Dan Danford

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