Donald Takacs Personal Statement

My time spent interning for Donald Takacs was a significant period in my undergraduate career and one which nurtured my interest in school psychology. Donald Takacs, president of the “Dyslexia Society of Connecticut” had partnered with the University of Connecticut to create his Phonics-based Multisensory Reading program. Mr. Takacs introduced me to Dr. Sally Shaywitz’s science-based program for reading difficulties through her book “Overcoming Dyslexia”. The consequences of stereotyping individuals with this disability and lack of detection were clear and disheartening. As an intern, I applied the knowledge I had gained from Mr. Takacs by developing weekly lesson plans for three early elementary school students who showed signs of reading difficulties. In the process, I was able to converse with their teachers and parents regarding their progress and the nature of our program
This school Psychologist, Dr. Amato, described his role in the school and community and I loved the sort of relationship he discussed having with the students, parents, and town members. Though his schedule is busy, his work has the ability to promote positive change within the school and provides him with enough challenges to grow as an individual. As a graduate student, I hope to gain the skills that would allow me to effectively detect various learning and mental health difficulties in students so that they can receive the necessary attention they deserve. With cultural diversity being an area of interest for me, I would love to further research the impact which this diversity creates between students, their families and the school system. Furthermore, I’m interested in how methods currently used in therapies, such as mindfulness training, can be applied within the school environment in unique