Awesome thread topic OP.
I had never really thought of visualization and reading as seperate skills before.
I think it is something that everyone can do but is definately imprroved through practice.
A little google-fu and I found a pretty simple and useful article for increasing visualization.
From the article:
"1st Exercise
Find a photograph, and take your time to analyze it. Memorize every detail you can. Then simply close your eyes and try to recreate it in your mind. Bring in as much as you can: the colors, the birds in the sky, the freckles on the skin — whatever is there. Open your eyes to get more detail if you have to. Remember that this is not a test: do it until you get good at it."
How to Develop Your Visualization Skill