March 1, 2003

 

COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN DIVISION ON VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS PRESENTS 2003 AWARDS AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

 

DIVISION ON VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS’ OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION OF THE YEAR AWARD

 

            The Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Visual Impairments is proud to present the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award to Dr. Grace Lappin at the International Conference in Seattle on April10, 2003.

Dr. Lappin completed her studies at Teachers College Columbia University, in the Department of Health and Behavior Studies.  Her dissertation was entitled, Applying Infant Massage Practices with Infants with Blindness or Visual Impairment: A Qualitative Study of Caregiver-Infant Attachment, which dealt with the nature of attachment formation and the dynamic interaction that occurs between caregiver and infant with blindness or visual impairment before and after infant massage was taught to the caregiver.  She is a licensed teacher of Blind and Visually Impaired Children currently teaching full-time at St. Joseph’s College New York in the Child Study Department. In addition, she is certified by CEC as a Professionally Recognized Special Educator and Clinical Diagnostician, and by the International Association of Infant Massage as an Infant Massage Instructor.  Her current projects and research include applying infant massage practices with infants with other disabilities, and exploring multicultural perspectives on infant handling.

Dr. Lappin has been chosen as the recipient of this award for the contribution her research has made in understanding the development and quality of secure attachment between caregiver and infant with blindness. It is with great pleasure that the Division on Visual Impairments awards Grace Lappin the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award for 2003.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

For further information about the Division on Visual Impairments’ Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award, please contact Dr. Stuart Wittenstein at (510) 794-3816.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE