Absurdities and Realities of Special Education
Collection Overview
Absurdities and Realities of Special Education: The University of Vermont Center for Digital Initiatives Collection is a complete set of all of the cartoons created by Michael Giangreco with the assistance of the artist Kevin Ruelle. This includes...
Show moreAbsurdities and Realities of Special Education: The University of Vermont Center for Digital Initiatives Collection is a complete set of all of the cartoons created by Michael Giangreco with the assistance of the artist Kevin Ruelle. This includes a total of 335 cartoons from four previously published books and searchable CD that went "out of print" in 2019 and a few newer cartoons. Michael Giangreco created the original ideas, text, and sketches for each cartoon and Kevin Ruelle redrew the sketches.
The cartoons in the first three books all were originally in black and white. That was a conscious decision, both for aesthetic and practical reasons. The cartoons were designed to be easily copied on to overhead transparencies for display in classes, workshops, and other learning environments. A group called Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) requested permission to use one of the cartoons on the cover of their magazine and subsequently colorized it. Prompted by Giangreco’s colleagues associated with ALLFIE, Giangreco and Ruelle began to colorize the rest of the images. In this complete digital collection, we have included a total of 335 different digital images; including the 315 different cartoons from the four earlier books, 12 cartoons that were on the CD only, and eight that were not included in any of the previously published books or CD.
Cartoons from the early books have found their way on to the pages of many newsletters disseminated by schools, parent groups, disability advocacy organizations, and professional associations. They have appeared in books, manuals, and journals; a few were even published in a law journal. The cartoons have been used extensively as projected slides or within learning activities in college classes, at conferences, in workshops, and at other meetings. Parents have framed cartoons that closely reflected their own experiences and hung them in their homes or offices. Other parents have used them in meetings with professionals to help get their points across. They have been given as gifts to people who "get it" and handed out as door prizes. The Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights used them as part of "Disability Awareness Day" at the Vermont legislature. The cartoons can be used in innumerable creative ways.
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Pages
- Title
- Best Instructors in 2nd Grade
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two teachers in the foreground talking to each other while two students are interacting in the background. One teacher asks the other, "What graduate course did you take to learn so much about teaching students with disabilities?" As the teacher motions toward the two students,...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two teachers in the foreground talking to each other while two students are interacting in the background. One teacher asks the other, "What graduate course did you take to learn so much about teaching students with disabilities?" As the teacher motions toward the two students, the student without disabilities says to her classmate with a disability, "Now you try it!" as teacher says to her colleague, "Well... I can introduce to one of my professors." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mrs. Hope found some of her best instructors were still in second grade."
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- Title
- Bill of Goods
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a teacher in the doorway of her classroom looking perplexed. In the hallway speaking to her is a man holding a large poster which says, "1. General Education Teachers can't teach students with disabilities. 2. You only have to be a host. 3. Everybody else is an expert." There...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher in the doorway of her classroom looking perplexed. In the hallway speaking to her is a man holding a large poster which says, "1. General Education Teachers can't teach students with disabilities. 2. You only have to be a host. 3. Everybody else is an expert." There are other items listed that are not readable. The man says to the teacher, "Excuse me Ma'am, you were sold a bill of goods. I am sorry to have to inform you that it has been recalled." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After being sold a bill of goods, Mrs. Martin is surprised to learn it's defective."
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- Title
- Book Club
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a group of people sitting around in a living room having tea there is a cat sitting on the coffee table. One of the women sitting on the couch says "This month's book club selection is controversial and quite revealing. Some of you might even find it shocking." The tag line...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a group of people sitting around in a living room having tea there is a cat sitting on the coffee table. One of the women sitting on the couch says "This month's book club selection is controversial and quite revealing. Some of you might even find it shocking." The tag line reads "Club members prepare to read 'Everything you always wanted to know about special education but were afraid to ask.'"
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- Title
- Bridging the Gap
- Date Created
- 2010-2013
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a bridge under construction spanning a river. There are completed parts from both sides of the river, one labeled "Research" and the other labeled "Practices in Schools." The middle section is open, not yet completed. A crane is lifting the connecting piece into place, labeled ...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a bridge under construction spanning a river. There are completed parts from both sides of the river, one labeled "Research" and the other labeled "Practices in Schools." The middle section is open, not yet completed. A crane is lifting the connecting piece into place, labeled "Service Delivery." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Bridging the Gap."
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- Title
- Burning Questions
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a paraprofessional looking distraught while holding some papers that are on fire and creating smoke. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Unfortunately, the teacher assistant's burning questions kept spontaneously combusting before they could be answered."
- Title
- Cadaver Lab
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a physician and a physical therapy student dressed in medical scrubs standing on the far side table where a cadaver with the lower legs showing is on a table. On the near side of the table are two school psychology students dressed in street clothes and holding clip boards and...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a physician and a physical therapy student dressed in medical scrubs standing on the far side table where a cadaver with the lower legs showing is on a table. On the near side of the table are two school psychology students dressed in street clothes and holding clip boards and pencils. The physician says to the physical therapy student, "OK, now pull back the skin to expose the quadricep." One school psychology student asks, "How do I score that?" The other student says about the cadaver, "He didn't give an incorrect response -- give him 2 points. That puts him in the range of moderate to severe intellectual disability." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "In the cadaver lab, physical therapy and school psychology students work together in an experimental interdisciplinary training program."
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- Title
- Cart Before the Horse
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a farmer scratching his head and looking confused as he looks at a draft horse hooked to a wagon the wrong way -- with the cart in front of the horse instead of behind it. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Harry persists in putting support services before educational goals...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a farmer scratching his head and looking confused as he looks at a draft horse hooked to a wagon the wrong way -- with the cart in front of the horse instead of behind it. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Harry persists in putting support services before educational goals and placement."
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- Title
- Cat and Mouse
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a school administrator wearing a cat mask sitting across the table from a mother of a child with a disability who is wearing Mickey Mouse ears. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After years of playing cat and mouse to develop an IEP, Casey's mother longs for a chance to be...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a school administrator wearing a cat mask sitting across the table from a mother of a child with a disability who is wearing Mickey Mouse ears. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After years of playing cat and mouse to develop an IEP, Casey's mother longs for a chance to be the cat for once!"
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- Title
- Cave School
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
A caveman with a club in his hand is dragging a child by her hair in to a cave which is labeled Cave School for the Hunting and Gathering Impaired. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Recent archeological evidence suggests that special schools have been around longer than once thought."
- Title
- Cement Shoe Therapy
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a person's bare legs from just above the a pair of knobby knees to the feet. The person's shoes are cinder blocks. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "A former gangster turned therapist relies on an old skill in developing his experimental cement shoe therapy."
- Title
- Chained
- Date Created
- 2007
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a person whose wheelchair is chained to a block wall. Each large, heavy link of the chain is labeled with one of the following words or phrases: inadequate supports, segregated schooling, disability labels, inadequate transpiration, segregated housing, discrimination, stigma....
Show moreThis cartoon shows a person whose wheelchair is chained to a block wall. Each large, heavy link of the chain is labeled with one of the following words or phrases: inadequate supports, segregated schooling, disability labels, inadequate transpiration, segregated housing, discrimination, stigma. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "None of us are free if one of us is chained." An acknowledgement on the left side of the cartoon reads, "Lyric by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weal, and Brenda Russell as sung by Ray Charles."
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- Title
- Cheap Imitations
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows four panels arranged in a square pattern, two-by-two. The top left frame shows a one way arrow sign pointing to the right. On the sign it says "Math One-Way" at the bottom of the frame it says "Math One-Way." In the top frame on the right is a scene with trees and a large arch...
Show moreThe cartoon shows four panels arranged in a square pattern, two-by-two. The top left frame shows a one way arrow sign pointing to the right. On the sign it says "Math One-Way" at the bottom of the frame it says "Math One-Way." In the top frame on the right is a scene with trees and a large arch over a road made with tree branches. Across the top to the arch is the word "Math" at the bottom of the frame it says "Math out of the way" The lower left frame has a wood post with arrows nailed to it pointing in different directions and each arrow has the word "Math" printed on it. At the bottom of the frame it says "Math, which way?" The lower right frame has a man on stage singing, "I did math myyy waaay!!" At the bottom of the frame it says, "Math my way." The tag line reads, "A popular math program spawns cheap imitations."
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- Title
- Classroom Hamster
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a cage with a hamster on a stationary wheel and person's hand is reaching and putting shredded paper on the bottom. Above this image it reads, "The #1 Sign a Teacher Does Not Find a Consultant's Input Supportive." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Consultant's Report is...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a cage with a hamster on a stationary wheel and person's hand is reaching and putting shredded paper on the bottom. Above this image it reads, "The #1 Sign a Teacher Does Not Find a Consultant's Input Supportive." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Consultant's Report is Found Shredded as Bedding for the Classroom Hamster."
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- Title
- Cloning (Paraprofessional)
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great paraprofessional." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical...
Show moreThis cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great paraprofessional." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical controversies Maggie favors human cloning."
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- Title
- Cloning (Special Educator)
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great special educator." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical...
Show moreThis cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great special educator." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical controversies Maggie favors human cloning."
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- Title
- Cloning (Teacher)
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great teacher." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical...
Show moreThis cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great teacher." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical controversies Maggie favors human cloning." A note on the side indicates, "Inspired by Adelle Keegan."
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- Title
- Cloning (Therapist)
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great therapist." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical...
Show moreThis cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great therapist." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical controversies Maggie favors human cloning."
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- Title
- Coming Out of the Closet
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two teachers looking at a line graph inside a closest. They are surprised by someone opening the door. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Charlotte and Maggie consider coming out of the closest about their graphing tendencies."
- Title
- Conditions
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two panels stacked vertically. In the top panel there is a man (Carl) walking down a sidewalk with a clipboard writing. Behind him is an open manhole with a "work area" sawhorse sign and a blind man (Jim) walking with a support cane. The panel below shows the Jim falling into...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two panels stacked vertically. In the top panel there is a man (Carl) walking down a sidewalk with a clipboard writing. Behind him is an open manhole with a "work area" sawhorse sign and a blind man (Jim) walking with a support cane. The panel below shows the Jim falling into the manhole and the Carl says, "I knew I should have paid more attention to the 'conditions' associated with that objective." The tag line reads "Carl Changes the 'conditions' in his objective: 'given a sidewalk route without an open manhole cover, Jim will safely walk from home to work...'"
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- Title
- Cookbook Recipes
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a person dressed as a chef attempting to follow a recipe from a book titled "Inclusion Cookbook." The scene in the kitchen is chaotic and messy (e.g., broken eggs, spilled liquids), with equipment and food strewn about in disarray. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a person dressed as a chef attempting to follow a recipe from a book titled "Inclusion Cookbook." The scene in the kitchen is chaotic and messy (e.g., broken eggs, spilled liquids), with equipment and food strewn about in disarray. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After several attempts, Fred begins to realize that cookbook recipes for inclusion just don't work."
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