Peter J. Salmon Award 2007 Recipient
Dennis Runyan
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI)
Cincinnati, Chicago

Dennis Runyan is one of those determined individuals who strives to defy misconceptions about blindness. Totally blind since birth, Dennis was a packer in the tape department at CABVI. When a position as a palletizer became available on a new tape line, Dennis insisted that he be given a chance at the position, which had never been performed before at that agency by someone who is totally blind. A few weeks later, he surprised his supervisor, who stated: "This is one of those times it feels great to be proven wrong. While I'm legally blind myself and consider myself open-minded to what people who are blind can accomplish, Dennis causes me to continue to challenge my own misconceptions."

Dennis, 53, is an active advocate of the services offered by CABVI, sharing his experiences with others in the community. He was the broadcast coordinator for Radio Reading Services in Cincinnati for a decade, and left that position to work for a Christian AM radio station. Today, he continues his radio work, providing voice-overs and announcements, in addition to his full time employment at CABVI. He has also acted in a community theater group, and has been involved in marketing their productions and fundraising activities.

About two years ago, Dennis and his wife, Monica, purchased a home. "Being able to purchase a home was a dream of ours and through our hard work and the opportunities provided by CABVI, that dream has become a reality," Dennis proudly beamed.