BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY -- Whether you're a workaholic in the office or at home, summer can be the time you re-think your priorities and find a healthy balance between work and your personal life. Chet Rispoli, director of Temple's Career Development Services, offers this three point plan to avoid the stress of America's overtaxed lifestyles. "First, define your role in life and set your priorities," says Rispoli. "Normal gender roles are confused now. Research shows that 75 percent of households have two working parents." Rispoli suggests men and women get over the traditional roles of hunter and gatherer. "With work, children, and now even caring for our parents- forget tradition, split the work!" Rispoli also suggests finding a daily, healthy outlet for stress--some personal time. "Allow your body to recapture its balance. Recreational activities relieve stress and replenish your resources. And that allows you to give more to your family and career." Finally, Rispoli advises everyone to find someone to talk to. Sounds simple, doesn't it? "Not everyone does it. When you're stressed and focused too much in one direction, you need someone to vent to. Internalizing everything can wreck your immune system and wear you down."
NO AIR CONDITIONING? KEEP YOUR COOL IN THE HEAT -- Summer is here, and so are the "dog days," with hot, sticky, humid weather and heat alerts for the elderly. For those not fortunate enough to have air-conditioned homes, there are a few things that can be done to help "beat the heat," says Steven Ridenour, professor of mechanical engineering at Temple.
When the mercury starts to rise, Ridenour says using proper ventilation techniques and cutting back on the use of lights and electrical appliances can reduce the amount of heat in the house, helping to make indoor living conditions a little more tolerable. "It's very important, whether you live in a house or an apartment, to open the windows at night to allow cooler air in," says Ridenour, who specializes in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. "In the morning, you should close everything up and keep it closed until it starts to feel uncomfortable. Then use open windows and a fan to pull the air through."
COMING UP ACES AT TEMPLE...AND BEYOND -- Temple professor Diane Bryen believes in dreams. That's why, 15 years ago this summer, she created ACES (Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Supports), a programdesigned to help adults with significant speech and physicaldisabilities learn to communicate using computer technology. But even Bryen couldn't have anticipated that the program, in less than two decades, would achieve international status, both for its work--and for its stellar graduates. ACES alumni are working in government, activism, non-profit organizations, and the private sector and have received numerous accolades, at home and abroad, for their achievements. When eight new participants come to ACES this year (July 14-26) on Temple's Main Campus, alumni of the program have been invited back to share--and celebrate--their successes. ACES participants will live on campus and will attend daily communication, computer and empowerment classes. The program culminates with a graduation ceremony July 26 when, clad in caps and gowns, each participant will give a speech using the assistive technology they have mastered. "There are two powerful moments for me each year," Bryen says. "The first is the empowerment class when people start telling their dreams and talk about how they will facilitate their dreams. The other is graduation day."
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