User:RipplestoRapids

Ripples to Rapids
Ripples to Rapids is a special education advocacy and tutoring agency founded by James Brauer, special education teacher and advocate for students with special needs.

Established in Kansas City, the influence of Ripples of Rapids is beginning to be noticed around the country through the use of Internet technology. Linked from the homepage is a blog site, which contains podcast recordings of special education and general education issues, and an online professional learning community/social networking site. Ripples to Rapids is intended to serve the needs of students with special needs, their families, teachers and administrators.

Brauer selected the name "Ripples to Rapids," after being personally motivated by a Robert Kennedy quotation that spoke of a tiny ripple with the potential to transform into a current that can transform the world.

"Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of the colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change. Each time a person stands up for an idea, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, (s)he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert F. Kennedy

Future projects for Ripples to Rapids include building the tutoring division to become the leading tutoring service in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Brauer will begin making presentations and materials for distribution to further inform parents, students, teachers and administrators on important special education issues.