Dr. Mason has been the Director of the Visual Impairment Program at New Mexico State University since the summer of 2012. She earned both her M.A. in Special Education: Visual Impairment in 1994 and her Ed.D. with an emphasis in Special Education and a minor in Applied Statistics and Research methods in 2012 from the University of Northern Colorado. Prior to her doctoral work, she taught orientation and mobility and all other areas of expanded core curriculum to children and youth with visual impairments in both public schools and residential schools.
During her doctoral program, she educated graduate and undergraduate prospective teachers of students with visual impairments at multiple universities, worked as the Braille Literacy Project Leader at the American Printing House for the Blind, and served as the President of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Visual Impairments. She is passionate about the use/development of best practices with learners who have visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities, in order to provide them with the equal opportunity to attain desired post-school outcomes. As a result, her research interests focus on attitudes about blindness and visual impairment, quality education for learners who also have significant disabilities, and literacy (especially braille literacy via tactile communication symbols). Dr. Mason’s guiding principle in the preparation of pre-service teachers is to model innovative, creative, engaging, and effective practices that teach all children in the way they each learn best.
Online Connections
http://www.facebook.com/NMSUVIProgram
Research Interests
Psychosocial implications of visual impairment; education of students with visual and severe cognitive disabilities; literacy for learners with visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities; standards-based education; multicultural literacy
Selected Works
Mason, L. K. (2014). An experimental investigation of hand and finger usage in braille reading. Manuscript submitted, New Mexico State University.
Mason, L. K. (2013). An experimental investigation of hand and finger usage in braille reading. Dissertation Abstracts International, 74(1-A)(E). (UMI No. 3523440).
Mason, L. (2012). The basic reading inventory: Student word lists, passages, and early literacy assessments (10th ed., contracted braille adaptation). Louisville, KY: American Printing House for the Blind.
Mason, L. (2012). Eye-Q challenge: Ocular diagnoses scramble (part 1 of 3). D.V.I. Quarterly, 57(2), 77-80 & 89.
Mason, L. (2011). Epilogue: The wisdom of friends and families. In K. A. Ferrell (Ed.), Reach out and teach (2nd ed.) (pp. 415-416). New York, NY: AFB Press.
Leadership
New Mexico State University Advisory Committee – Facilitator
Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Visual Impairments – President
Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Visual Impairments – Executive Board Member
New Mexico Association of Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists – Secretary; Treasurer; Editor
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Kentucky Chapter – Representative for Rehabilitation
Selected Recognitions
University of Northern Colorado Dean’s Citation for Excellence: Outstanding Dissertation
Academic Background
Ed.D. Special Education, University of Northern Colorado
Concentration in Visual Impairment; Minor in Applied Statistical & Research Methods
M.A. Special Education, University of Northern Colorado
Concentration in Severe Needs Vision with ACVREP certification in Orientation and Mobility
B.A. Psychology and Sociology, Adams State University
Concentration in Social Welfare
