Disability Advocate to Address 4th Friday

Dr. Dennis W. Atkins, executive director and CEO of Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence, an independent living center located in Viburnum, will speak at Mineral Area College’s 4th Friday on April 22.

The public is invited to attend Atkins’s Fourth Friday presentation, 10 a.m., April 22, in the Fine Arts Theatre at MAC’s Park Hills campus. A Q&A session will follow. For more information, contact Amy McKenna-Jones, (573) 518-2146 or mjones@MineralArea.edu. The lecture is free and open to the public.
 
Dr. Dennis W. Atkins has served as the executive director and CEO of Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence, an independent living center located in Viburnum, since October 2012.
 
Atkins holds master’s and doctoral degrees in business administration and previously worked at American Family Mutual Insurance Company for more than 34 years. In 1979, Atkins was diagnosed with an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa, which has left his vision diminished to seeing only shadows in certain light conditions.
 
Despite his visual impairments, Atkins has become a long distance runner, logging more than 88,000 miles and 78 full marathons. He runs unassisted daily to demonstrate the importance of living your life independently.
 
Atkins participates in and hosts many running events for charity while raising thousands of dollars for individuals with disabilities. His passion and drive for helping others has led him to conducting motivational presentations for many organizations, schools, colleges/universities, churches, and professional groups.