Bridges Founding Director MaryJane Beach writes: Did you read the tip about building positive routines in last month's issue of the Bridgebuilder? What did you do after you read the tip? If you set a goal and began keeping an Action Calendar, we want to hear from you! What worked for you? How did you get started? Keep up the good work and write to me to share your success with others. If you did not begin, let's take a closer look at building routines. [ALEX- SHOULD THIS BE THE FEATURE ARTICLE? See article below I COULD TAKE PEOPLE THROUGH THE COACHING PROGRAM USING THE ACTION CALENDAR.

What does it mean to be Bobby Approved? What did you do Alex, to help make the website accessible? What features are not accessible?

Earlier this month we presented a workshop at LDA Conference in Reno, NV to parents, adults and teachers concerned with learning disabilities. The presentation was title: Take Charge!™ Build Routines and Find Balance with a One Page Planner. We addressed adults with learning issues, as well as family memebers and teachers. Are routines and balance connected? Routines (structure) and balance (feeling satisfied) are closely connected to each other and to learning. Would you be able to appreciate the balanced feeling after a good workout or yoga class, if you did not have a routine (regular practice) to learn enough to understand the benefits of the experience? For some, building routines and finding balance is a self-directed process. For others the process of building routines occurs only with help from a "coach". A "coach" (family member, teacher, counselor, friend) helps with building routines. Because learning and attention disorders are "process" disabilities, individuals need help with the process - in this case of learning a new routine. It is helpful (and rewarding) to teach the routine, and encourage experiential learning. In this and future issues, I will offer Take Charge!™ TM tips to "coach" you to use an Action Calendar, or to help someone build new routines. Take a look at the grahpic: the compass is a metaphor for finding direction in life, and, the kangaroo with a communication band is symbolic in Take Charge!™ TM Coaching. [ALEX ORDER A TOOL KIT AND LESSON BOOK FOR YOUR MULTISENSORY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING LESSONS]

Take Charge!TM of your Health. Betsy Werner, M.Ed., R.N. Balance Wellness will contribute to a monthly series, Take Charge!™ TM of your Health. She will share a monthly tip about nutrition, stress management and lifestyle issues about finding balance in life. Betsy was a family therapy intern at Bridges Associates, Inc. for a year (2003-2004) and she is a trainer for the Take Charge!™ Coaching Program. She is a member of the American Holistic Nurse Association. She has a Wellness Consulting Practice on Cape Cod. If you have suggestions or questions contact Betsy Learning Disabilities and Learning Differences John Beach, M.Ed., Educational Psychologist and Special Educator will begin a monthly series about Learning Disabilities and Learning Differences.