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.
Show less
Pages
- Title
- Parole Approach (Down syndrome)
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two students with special educational needs depicted as prisoners, behind bars and wearing striped prison uniforms. One student says to the other, "What are you in for?" The other student says, "Down syndrome. But they said with good behavior I could be out in 3 to 5." The tag...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two students with special educational needs depicted as prisoners, behind bars and wearing striped prison uniforms. One student says to the other, "What are you in for?" The other student says, "Down syndrome. But they said with good behavior I could be out in 3 to 5." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Parole Approach to School Inclusion." The note on the side indicates, "Inspired by Robert Holland."
Show less
- Title
- Passing the Buck
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a young student with disabilities wearing a deer mask (with antlers) while he is handed from a teacher to a paraprofessional. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "The professional staff resort to using props just so the teacher assistant is clear they are passing the buck."
- Title
- Pinocchio's Cousin
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows three panels of a man sitting at a desk on the phone with a parent. In the first panel he is saying "I'm sorry, but we don't have any space available for you child with disabilities in our school." The second panel shows the man's nose getting longer and he is saying "Even if we...
Show moreThe cartoon shows three panels of a man sitting at a desk on the phone with a parent. In the first panel he is saying "I'm sorry, but we don't have any space available for you child with disabilities in our school." The second panel shows the man's nose getting longer and he is saying "Even if we did, we can't provide the necessary supports in a regular class." The third panel show his nose even longer and he is saying "We really don't have a choice. All students with severe disabilities have to go to the district's special program." The tag line reads "A distant cousin of Pinocchio discovers he has inherited one of his families recessive traits."
Show less
- Title
- Placement Problem #32
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a classroom of students with one very large older boy sitting with all the other younger children. The tag lines reads "Placement problem #32: Functioning level rather than chronological age."
- Title
- Pulling in Different Directions
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a distressed looking students whose body parts are being pulled in different directions by ropes attached and labeled by various disciplines. A rope attached to his left leg (labeled PT) is pulling out. Another rope is attached to his right arm (labeled OT) is pulling in the...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a distressed looking students whose body parts are being pulled in different directions by ropes attached and labeled by various disciplines. A rope attached to his left leg (labeled PT) is pulling out. Another rope is attached to his right arm (labeled OT) is pulling in the opposite direction. A rope attached to his throat (labeled SLP) is pulling a different direction. A rope attached to his head (labeled Special Ed) is pulling in a different direction. The student being pulled in different directions says, "I'm not sure this is working for me!" The tag line under cartoon reads, Fred expresses concern after team members agree to all pull in different directions. "A tag line on the side reads, "With help from Dan Giangreco."
Show less
- Title
- Pumped Up
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a woman lifting weights on a barbell. The tag line reads "Mrs. Hart gets pumped up about teaching a full range of students, because even though it's hard work, the results really show."
- Title
- Recycling
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two educators talking in front of a filing cabinet. The woman says "Tom's IEP is due soon. What should we do?" The man responds "No sweat. I've saved every IEP I've ever written over the past 15 years. Pick one and we'll go from there." The tag line reads, "Recycling Gone Bad."
- Title
- Remodeling
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows six men all doing different tasks trying to remodel a bathroom and all of them are getting in each others way and making a mess of things. The tag line reads, "If we remodeled bathrooms the way we delivered support services using a specialist-reliant model..."
- Title
- Reptilian Responses
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
A snake, lizzard, and toad are talking to each other. The snake says, "Let's attack it!". The lizzard says, "Let's eat it!". The toad says, "Let's run. Away from it!". The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Reptilian Responses to Diversity".
- Title
- Rocket Science
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a teacher at a chalkboard where he has written a long, complicated equation next to a drawing of a rocket. He says to his colleague, "Here's my plan to include James in a regular class -- it's based on a NASA model." His colleague replies, "It doesn't have to be so complicated....
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher at a chalkboard where he has written a long, complicated equation next to a drawing of a rocket. He says to his colleague, "Here's my plan to include James in a regular class -- it's based on a NASA model." His colleague replies, "It doesn't have to be so complicated." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Frank learns that inclusion doesn't have to be rocket science."
Show less
- Title
- Roots of Special Education
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows Rita tending to her garden of root vegetables. The image depicts a cross-section so you can see the roots growing under ground. Each different type of vegetable has a different label: (a) "Access," (b) "Individualization," (c) "Quality Instruction," and (d) "Meaningful Outcomes....
Show moreThe cartoon shows Rita tending to her garden of root vegetables. The image depicts a cross-section so you can see the roots growing under ground. Each different type of vegetable has a different label: (a) "Access," (b) "Individualization," (c) "Quality Instruction," and (d) "Meaningful Outcomes." The tag line reads, "Rita returns to dig up the roots of special education."
Show less
- Title
- Rubber Stamp
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoons shows document titled, IEP Program and Services along with a rubber stamp that says, "APPROVED" and the document has been stamped. The tag line under the cartoon says, Special Education Coordinator, Mr. Peters, use a low-tech solution to avoid confrontations and threats of due...
Show moreThis cartoons shows document titled, IEP Program and Services along with a rubber stamp that says, "APPROVED" and the document has been stamped. The tag line under the cartoon says, Special Education Coordinator, Mr. Peters, use a low-tech solution to avoid confrontations and threats of due process hearings."
Show less
- Title
- Secret Ballot
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows piece of paper labeled SECRET BALLOT. Under the heading it asks the question, "What Type of Team Do You Have?" Below that question are listed five options stacked vertically, each with a check box to the left. The options are "Ideal, Ambiguous Roles, Disorganized,...
Show moreThis cartoon shows piece of paper labeled SECRET BALLOT. Under the heading it asks the question, "What Type of Team Do You Have?" Below that question are listed five options stacked vertically, each with a check box to the left. The options are "Ideal, Ambiguous Roles, Disorganized, Underperforming, and Overstructured." A hand holding a pencil has checked the box next to Ambiguous Roles. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After months of public agreement and private disagreement, the team decides to find out what everyone is thinking."
Show less
- Title
- The Shadow
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two children walking down a sidewalk in a neighborhood. There are two houses coming up to their left at the end of a split rail fence. There is a street drain on the right with a small puddle and a large shadow of a person behind the children. One child says to the other, "I...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two children walking down a sidewalk in a neighborhood. There are two houses coming up to their left at the end of a split rail fence. There is a street drain on the right with a small puddle and a large shadow of a person behind the children. One child says to the other, "I feel like I am being followed." The other child says, "You're just being paranoid." The tag line reads "The Shadow Knows: Rodney's suspicions were accurate. Unbeknownst to him, a paraprofessional had been assigned to be his shadow."
Show less
- Title
- Skyrocket
- Date Created
- 2007
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two people outside looking up at a star-filled night sky as they see something bright streaking up and across it. One person points to it and asks, "What's that?" The other person calmly says, "Oh, that's skyrocketing use of special education paraprofessionals." The tag line...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two people outside looking up at a star-filled night sky as they see something bright streaking up and across it. One person points to it and asks, "What's that?" The other person calmly says, "Oh, that's skyrocketing use of special education paraprofessionals." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Out of Sight!"
Show less
- Title
- Sometimes numbers do lie
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a detective, wearing a Sherlock Holmes style hat with a listening device pressed against a wall with other end in his ear to listen to what is happening in the adjacent room. Pictured in the other room are two numbers talking to each other. The number 7 says, "No really, 100 +...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a detective, wearing a Sherlock Holmes style hat with a listening device pressed against a wall with other end in his ear to listen to what is happening in the adjacent room. Pictured in the other room are two numbers talking to each other. The number 7 says, "No really, 100 + 34 = 199." Number 2 replies, "I never knew that." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After weeks of undercover work, Fred verifies that sometimes numbers do lie!"
Show less
- Title
- Space Jam / Space Maker
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows a school administrator talking on the phone while sitting at his desk looking very relaxed (feet up, leaning back in his chair, glasses up on his head, and drink with a straw). He says to a parent on the phone, "I'm sorry Mrs....
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows a school administrator talking on the phone while sitting at his desk looking very relaxed (feet up, leaning back in his chair, glasses up on his head, and drink with a straw). He says to a parent on the phone, "I'm sorry Mrs. Brown, but we simply don't have enough space in our school to accommodate your child with special needs -- but we'll find a place in a nearby district..." The tag line under this top panel reads, "Space Jam." In the bottom panel a colleague says to the administrator, "It looks like we're going to have an extra kindergarten class next fall. Where will we put them?" The administrator is on the move as he says, "We'll figure something out. Put the music class on wheels, art on a cart, and get a portable if necessary." The tag line under this bottom panel reads, "Space Maker."
Show less
- Title
- Speaking Loudly
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a professional educator at a table with three children. She yells, "THAT'S VERY GOOD, ALAN, NOW IT'S JILL'S TURN" so loudly that the force of her voice makes the students' hair blow back as if in a wind storm. The tag line below the cartoon reads, "Ellen thinks speaking loudly...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a professional educator at a table with three children. She yells, "THAT'S VERY GOOD, ALAN, NOW IT'S JILL'S TURN" so loudly that the force of her voice makes the students' hair blow back as if in a wind storm. The tag line below the cartoon reads, "Ellen thinks speaking loudly is a form of specialized instruction."
Show less
- Title
- Stair Wars
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a boy at the top of a four-step stairway that goes straight into a wall as he says to his physical therapist. There's nothing here but a wall." His physical therapist is dressed in a Darth Vader costume holding a light sabre as he says, "Now walk back down the stairs!" The tag...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a boy at the top of a four-step stairway that goes straight into a wall as he says to his physical therapist. There's nothing here but a wall." His physical therapist is dressed in a Darth Vader costume holding a light sabre as he says, "Now walk back down the stairs!" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "STAIR WARS: Freddie is not amused by his physical therapist's choice of Halloween costume." A note on the side indicates, "Inspired by Norman Kunc."
Show less
- Title
- A Tale of Two Schools
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon has two panels, top and bottom. The top panel shows two people across a table from each other. The person to the right has two large stacks of books next to him. The person to the left says, "Are we ready to include students with more severe disabilities in regular class?." The second...
Show moreThe cartoon has two panels, top and bottom. The top panel shows two people across a table from each other. The person to the right has two large stacks of books next to him. The person to the left says, "Are we ready to include students with more severe disabilities in regular class?." The second person says, "As soon as I finish reading these books on inclusion and draft our long-range plan... We should be ready in 7 or 8 years." The bottom panel has two people facing each other, both holding a piece of paper. The person on the left says, "I'm sure glad we got started including and supporting all our students in regular classes." The person to the right says, "Me too! I know we'll learn things along the way from our success and mistakes." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "A tale of two schools."
Show less