An Open Letter to Governor Larry Hogan

I have posted many times about the challenges that my wife and I have faced with raising a son with autism.  He has been attending his current school for a little more than 5 years now and graduates in June.  Upon graduation, we had hopes of getting him into a group home situation.  We feel this would be the best situation for him to continue the progress he has made at his school.  Whenever he comes home for a visit, he tends to regress.  For this reason, we believe that an extended stay at home after graduation would be detrimental to his continued development.

We have been working with various agencies to try to accomplish the goal of getting him funding for a group home.  A few days ago, we received a letter from the Developmental Disabilities Administration in Maryland with news.  The letter stated that our son was classified in the greatest need for funding.  That was the good news.  The bad news is that there is no funding currently available.  On the advice of his transitional coordinator at school, I have written to our Governor expressing the need for additional funding for the disabled community. 

I have posted that communication below.  Similar communications will be sent to my state Senator and Delegates.



Governor Hogan,

I voted for you in the last election, and now could use your help.  I am writing in regards to my 20 year old son who has autism.  Currently, he attends school at the Benedictine School for Exceptional Children in Ridgely, MD.  He has been a student there for the past 5 years and graduates in June.

Our hope is that he would be able to get funding to enter a residential program through DDA upon graduation.  He has been classified in the Crisis Resolution category as having the greatest need for services but that funding was not available and would have to be put on a waiting list.

Sending our son to live at the Benedictine School was one of the hardest things we ever had to do.  However, it was the best thing for our son.  He has made so much progress in their program.  Unfortunately, when he is at home, he tends to regress.  If he were to have to move home until funding is available for a residential program it would be detrimental to his well being.

Governor Hogan, it is for this reason that I write to you.  I am asking that you and the state legislature to provide adequate funding so that the DDA can provide the services that my son, and other members of the community with disabilities can get the services they need.  Thank you for your consideration.

The Differences Between Beach and Indoor Volleyball

Several people play volleyball for fun, exercise, and to make friends. Pick up games are constantly happening for interested individuals. All you need is some basic equipment from All Volleyball. Then, you can decide whether you prefer to play at the beach or indoors. Both options are fun, and many people play at both venues. However, there are key differences between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball. Before you join a game, it is important to understand how each game is played.

Balls

You need different balls to play indoors and at the beach. The indoor volleyballs are heavier and made of leather. They are designed to be more powerful and move quicker around the court. Beach volleyballs are lighter and softer than the balls used indoors. They are also a little bit bigger. The lighter weight helps the ball float in the outdoor air, and it can benefit the players in specific weather conditions.

Court Sizes

The size of the court is different for outdoor and indoor volleyball games. Indoor courts are larger, and there is a line of attack that the back row players cannot cross during the game. Beach volleyball courts are smaller, and they do not have the attack line. Instead, a player can hit the ball from anywhere on the court.

Players

Each team is allotted a specific amount of players during a volleyball game. When the game is held indoors, six players are aloud on the court at a time. All of these players have a certain position, and they usually rotate to their spots during the game. Typically, beach volleyball is played in pairs or doubles. The two players do not necessarily have positions. Instead, one stays on the left and the other stays on the right.

Scoring

Scoring is important in any game because it indicates which team wins. In volleyball, scoring can be confusing if you do not understand the rules. During indoor games, the best of five sets wins. To win a set, the team has to score 25 points first. If a fifth set is necessary, the first team to 15 points wins. Beach volleyball involves fewer sets, usually because there are more rallies. Teams play best of three. The first two sets are played to 21 points, and the last set is played to 15 points. For both indoor and outdoor volleyball, a team must win a set by two points.

These are the basic differences between beach and indoor volleyball. Now that you understand the differences, you can join a pick up game in your area. You will love meeting new friends and getting some exercise.