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
- Meet the Standards
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows Mr. Moody (administrator) standing with a line of students behind him and a couple with a baby, Mr. and Mrs. Standard, in front of them. Mr. Moody says "Suzy, I'd like you to meet Mr. Standard, his wife, Mrs. Standard and their little baby Standard- They're new in town." The tag...
Show moreThe cartoon shows Mr. Moody (administrator) standing with a line of students behind him and a couple with a baby, Mr. and Mrs. Standard, in front of them. Mr. Moody says "Suzy, I'd like you to meet Mr. Standard, his wife, Mrs. Standard and their little baby Standard- They're new in town." The tag line reads "Confused by a state education directive, Mr. Moody arranges for every student in his school to meet the Standards."
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- Title
- Meeting Mania
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows educators sitting around a big table. One man is saying "Our agenda for today's meeting is to review the agenda from our last meeting, discuss why we don't get much accomplished at meetings, and set a date for our next meeting." The tag line reads "Meeting Mania."
- Title
- Method to the Madness
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a cluster of university buildings, one is a tall bell tower with a person at the top laughing, "Hee hee hee." There are three people in the foreground of the panel one man standing on the left says, "Is the rumor true about Dr. G?" The woman standing in the middle says, "I'm...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a cluster of university buildings, one is a tall bell tower with a person at the top laughing, "Hee hee hee." There are three people in the foreground of the panel one man standing on the left says, "Is the rumor true about Dr. G?" The woman standing in the middle says, "I'm afraid so. After 20 years of conducting research he's regressed to a child-like state of writing cartoons." The man standing on the right says, "He won't get tenure that way!" The tag line reads, "Method to the madness: Unbeknownst to his learned colleagues, Dr G. got more people talking about important issues when they were cleverly disguised as corny cartoons."
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- Title
- Mirror
- Date Created
- 2007
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows two teachers talking with each other while some students are working at a table in the background. One teacher says to the other, "Erin is doing so well in your class! How has it been teaching a student with a disability?" The...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows two teachers talking with each other while some students are working at a table in the background. One teacher says to the other, "Erin is doing so well in your class! How has it been teaching a student with a disability?" The other teacher replies, "Well, the first day I saw an intimidated, scared girl." The second panel below show the same image but now the responding teacher is shown with a thought bubble where she is seeing younger (child version) of herself in a mirror as intimidated and scared, while she adds, "Then I realized I was looking in the mirror." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Reflections of a high school English teacher." A note on the left side reads, "Inspired by Erin McKenzie and Peggy Burner."
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- Title
- Misdemeanor Middle School
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a student in a wheelchair sitting outside a school. The school building is on tall stilts, is surrounded by barbed wire, and has only one entrance at the top of a long steep stairway. The building has a ground level sign that says, "IDEA, L.R.E., and F.A.P.E" and high above a...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a student in a wheelchair sitting outside a school. The school building is on tall stilts, is surrounded by barbed wire, and has only one entrance at the top of a long steep stairway. The building has a ground level sign that says, "IDEA, L.R.E., and F.A.P.E" and high above a sign over the entrance door reads, "Welcome. Misdemeanor Middle School." The student looking up at the inaccessible entrance has a thought bubble filled with random characters indicating he's saying a series of expletives to himself. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Administration at Misdemeanor Middle School continue to consider themselves above the law."
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- Title
- Molehills
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows three panels. In the first panel there is a man on the phone saying, "This morning there was a huge traffic Jam." In his thought bubble you see a four way stop with two other cars. In the second panel he is saying into the phone "Then I saw Jeff. He's put on so much weight!" In...
Show moreThe cartoon shows three panels. In the first panel there is a man on the phone saying, "This morning there was a huge traffic Jam." In his thought bubble you see a four way stop with two other cars. In the second panel he is saying into the phone "Then I saw Jeff. He's put on so much weight!" In his thought bubble you now see Jeff just an ordinary guy average size. In the third panel he is saying into the phone "Did I tell you I have a student with a disability who is sooo much work. He really stands out!" In his thought bubble you see four students quietly doing their work. The tag line reads "Harry continues his efforts to gain admittance to the local 'Mountain Out of a Molehill' society."
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- Title
- Mr. IEP
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a coffee maker and instructions how to make an IEP with it. The cartoon says "Introducing…Mr. IEP 1. Insert student needs packet (shows putting coffee filter into the coffee maker) 2. Pour in 8 cups of possible IEP goals (shows water pouring into the back of the coffee maker) 3....
Show moreThe cartoon shows a coffee maker and instructions how to make an IEP with it. The cartoon says "Introducing…Mr. IEP 1. Insert student needs packet (shows putting coffee filter into the coffee maker) 2. Pour in 8 cups of possible IEP goals (shows water pouring into the back of the coffee maker) 3. Turn On Mr. IEP (shows where to turn on the coffee maker) Enjoy perfect IEPs every time!" The tag line reads "Special educators invent misguided automated approaches."
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- Title
- Mrs. Brown keeps her name.
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a group of school personnel seated at a table facing a chalkboard where another person is standing and pointing to the board. On the board are written several different names used to refer to paraprofessionals such as Teacher's Helper, Teacher's Aide, Teacher's Assistant,...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a group of school personnel seated at a table facing a chalkboard where another person is standing and pointing to the board. On the board are written several different names used to refer to paraprofessionals such as Teacher's Helper, Teacher's Aide, Teacher's Assistant, Individual Support Person, Paraeducator, Jill of All Trades, Ed-entered Servant, and others that are partially obscured -- all of the names have been crossed out with chalk line through each of them. Only one name is not crossed out, Mrs. Brown. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After a grueling meeting, the staff decides to let Mrs. Brown keep her name."
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- Title
- Multiple Personalities
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows a man sitting in a chair across from a psychotherapist holding a clipboard. The psychotherapist says "When you count to 3, you vil vake up and remember nothing from hypnosis..1..2..3." In the lower panel it shows the man wake up...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows a man sitting in a chair across from a psychotherapist holding a clipboard. The psychotherapist says "When you count to 3, you vil vake up and remember nothing from hypnosis..1..2..3." In the lower panel it shows the man wake up and he says, "What happened?" The psychotherapist says, "Ed, you have at least 5 personalities, Early Ed, Special Ed, Vocational Ed, Bilingual Ed, and Regular Ed. Resulting in internal conflict." the tag line reads "Ed is diagnosed with multiple personality disorder."
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- Title
- Mysteries of Friendship
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two teachers talking to each other in the foreground. In the background are two students painting at an easel -- one is seated in a wheelchair and the other does not have a disability. One teacher says, "I don't get it. What does Keith see in Joey? He can't walk or talk, he...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two teachers talking to each other in the foreground. In the background are two students painting at an easel -- one is seated in a wheelchair and the other does not have a disability. One teacher says, "I don't get it. What does Keith see in Joey? He can't walk or talk, he needs help with everything, yet they're inseparable." The other teacher says, "Maybe part of being friends is liking a person for who they are -- not just what they can do." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mysteries of Friendship."
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- Title
- Name that Discipline
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows three parents next to each other standing behind podiums labeled, Parent 1, 2 and 3; behind them is the name of the game show they are playing, "Name that Discipline." Parent number 1 says, "I can name that discipline in one goal!" The show's host says, "OK, Here's you next...
Show moreThis cartoon shows three parents next to each other standing behind podiums labeled, Parent 1, 2 and 3; behind them is the name of the game show they are playing, "Name that Discipline." Parent number 1 says, "I can name that discipline in one goal!" The show's host says, "OK, Here's you next clue: Sally will increase bilateral lip posturing, lip movement and lateralization." The tag line below the cartoon reads, "Having suffered through excessive exposure to professionals, parents look for fun ways of coping."
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- Title
- New Disability Categories
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows four people in the panel. On the left of the panel is a height measure from 1 to 6 feet. The first person the right of the height measure is a dark skinned woman holding two packages with bags full of packages at her feet. Above her head it says "Chronic Shopping Syndrome." To...
Show moreThe cartoon shows four people in the panel. On the left of the panel is a height measure from 1 to 6 feet. The first person the right of the height measure is a dark skinned woman holding two packages with bags full of packages at her feet. Above her head it says "Chronic Shopping Syndrome." To her right is a very tall bald man above his head it says "Follically Impaired." To the right of him is a very small woman above her head it says "Vertically Challenged." To the right of her is a medium height man with long blond hair above him it says "Color Blind." The tag line reads "Congress authorizes the addition of four new disability categories to the Americans with Disabilities Act."
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- Title
- New Scholarship
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows three men and one woman sitting around a table. The man sitting on the left of the panel is saying "I'm sorry, but these materials are totally unacceptable scholarship." The woman sitting in the middle of the panel says, "I concur. They use completely understandable language,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows three men and one woman sitting around a table. The man sitting on the left of the panel is saying "I'm sorry, but these materials are totally unacceptable scholarship." The woman sitting in the middle of the panel says, "I concur. They use completely understandable language, are concise, and could be used by people without an advanced education." The man to her right replies, "Plus, they seem to elicit laughter, and we certainly can't have that in serious scholarship." The fourth man is sitting with his back to the panel and is writing on papers. The tag line reads, "University Promotion Mishap #3: New scholarship meets old scholars."
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- Title
- A New Twist on School Bussing
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has three panels; in all three a school administrator (Mr. Moody) is seated behind a desk with a parent in a chair across from him. In the first pane the parent says, "Mr. Moody, I'm very concerned that my son has been sent to 3 out-of-district schools in the past 5 years. In the...
Show moreThis cartoon has three panels; in all three a school administrator (Mr. Moody) is seated behind a desk with a parent in a chair across from him. In the first pane the parent says, "Mr. Moody, I'm very concerned that my son has been sent to 3 out-of-district schools in the past 5 years. In the second panel she asks, "How do you justify this practice?" and Mr. Moody replies, "Haven't you seen the district motto?" In the third panel he points to a sign embedded in an American flag which reads, "Join the Special Ed Program... See the County!" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "A new twist on school bussing."
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- Title
- Nix Narrowing Normal
- Date Created
- 2010-2013
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The upper panel shows a large group of people positioned between two brick walls with plenty of space between them and the walls on either side. The group represents all manner of human diversity (e.g., age, race, gender identity, ability/disability...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The upper panel shows a large group of people positioned between two brick walls with plenty of space between them and the walls on either side. The group represents all manner of human diversity (e.g., age, race, gender identity, ability/disability) happily together with the word "NORMAL" under them with an arrowed line on each side pointing out toward the walls. One person seated in a wheelchair in the group says. "Keepin' it wide!" The lower panels shows the same group of people squished tightly and uncomfortably between the same two walls that have been pushed very close together by mechanical arms from both sides so that now the space available for "NORMAL" is so small that even the letters of the word are scrunched. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Nix Narrowing Normal."
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- Title
- Nth Degree
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a tee-shirt shop with a person in a wheelchair looking at the different shirts. The sign on the wall is labeled, "Nth Degree." There are three shirts tacked to the wall that read: (a) "Your attitude might be my biggest barrier." (b) "I am, therefore I matter." and (c) "Nothing...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a tee-shirt shop with a person in a wheelchair looking at the different shirts. The sign on the wall is labeled, "Nth Degree." There are three shirts tacked to the wall that read: (a) "Your attitude might be my biggest barrier." (b) "I am, therefore I matter." and (c) "Nothing about me without me!" The person in the wheelchair has a thought bubble that reads, "HMMMM...decisions decisions." The tag line reads, "Peter ponders over apparel to wear to his next IEP meeting." The acknowledgement tag line on the left reads, "Inspired by Dan Wilkins."
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- Title
- Oasis
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a hand holding the door open to a public bathroom. Under the bathroom stall are legs with pants down. The person holding the door says "Mr. Moody, are you OK? You've been in there for an hour!" Mr. Moody responds, "You can't make me come out! Can you have my lunch sent in here?"...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a hand holding the door open to a public bathroom. Under the bathroom stall are legs with pants down. The person holding the door says "Mr. Moody, are you OK? You've been in there for an hour!" Mr. Moody responds, "You can't make me come out! Can you have my lunch sent in here?" The tag line reads "After a stressful morning, Principal Moody is reluctant to relinquish the only oasis of peace and solitude he can find."
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- Title
- Odd Jobs
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows three people sitting at a table side-by-side. Each of them has a box with nuts and bolts in front of them. The man on the left says, "I put the nut and bolt together." The person in in the middle says, "I take the nut and bolt apart." The woman on the right says, "I put the nut...
Show moreThe cartoon shows three people sitting at a table side-by-side. Each of them has a box with nuts and bolts in front of them. The man on the left says, "I put the nut and bolt together." The person in in the middle says, "I take the nut and bolt apart." The woman on the right says, "I put the nut and bolt together." The sign on the front of the table reads "Sheltered Make -Work Industries, Inc. since 1969." The tag like reads, "Odd Jobs!"
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- Title
- Oh, Que?
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has four panels arranged in a square, each showing the same image: a special educator sitting across from a parent with papers on the table between them. In the upper left panel the teacher says, "Mrs. Ramirez, as you know, we are here to plan an IEP for Jose. Now I know we should...
Show moreThis cartoon has four panels arranged in a square, each showing the same image: a special educator sitting across from a parent with papers on the table between them. In the upper left panel the teacher says, "Mrs. Ramirez, as you know, we are here to plan an IEP for Jose. Now I know we should have checked with you first, but we went ahead and drafted his goals and objectives." In the upper right panel the special educator asks, "Is that OK with you?" The parent, who speaks Spanish as her primary language and has a confused look on her face asks, "Oh, que?" In the lower left panel the special educator say, "Great, I'm glad it's OK with you. Actually, I know shouldn't have, but we went head and made some related service decisions too. Is that OK? The confused parent again replies, "Oh, que?" In the lower right panel the special educator says, "Wonderful Mrs. Ramirez. Don't you wish every IEP meeting was this easy?" Again the confused parent again replies, "Oh, que?" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Miss Plepper was absent for the Inservice on cultural and linguistic diversity.
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- Title
- Old Hat
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a classroom table with children sitting around it working on papers together. Two teachers are in the left side of the frame chatting, one is wearing an old baseball hat. And one is wearing a hairband and glasses. The teacher with the hairband says "It's amazing how well you...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a classroom table with children sitting around it working on papers together. Two teachers are in the left side of the frame chatting, one is wearing an old baseball hat. And one is wearing a hairband and glasses. The teacher with the hairband says "It's amazing how well you have adjusted your teaching now that students with severe disabilities are in your class." The teacher in the old hat says "Well, I just keep reminding myself that my students were each different before 'Inclusive Education' that hasn't changed, just expanded." The tag line reads "Mrs. King sports her worn softball cap as a reminder that individualizing to meet unique student needs is old hat to good teachers."
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