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
- On the Brink
- Date Created
- 2010-2013
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a small house teetering on the edge of a cliff, nearly falling off on to the rocks and shark-infested waters below. There is a rope tied around the house and a long line of paraprofessionals pulling hard to stop it from falling. A man with a megaphone calls out, "Get more...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a small house teetering on the edge of a cliff, nearly falling off on to the rocks and shark-infested waters below. There is a rope tied around the house and a long line of paraprofessionals pulling hard to stop it from falling. A man with a megaphone calls out, "Get more paraprofessionals! Keep 'em coming!" while a person on the rope line says, "Wouldn't it be better to build on a more solid footing?" The tag line under the cartoon reads: "On the Brink: Is your service delivery model built too close to the edge?"
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- Title
- On the Fence
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a man uncomfortably sitting astride and atop a white picket fence as he says, "Really! I can see both sides." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Roy has been sitting on the fence for so long that he has forgotten how to form his own opinion."
- Title
- One in a Million
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two women talking. The woman in the lower right side of the panel is asking the other woman, "Can you tell me about Jody's disabilities?" The other woman in the left side of the panel, Mrs. Smith, responds "Let's just say she's "One in a million, Literally." The tag line reads, ...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two women talking. The woman in the lower right side of the panel is asking the other woman, "Can you tell me about Jody's disabilities?" The other woman in the left side of the panel, Mrs. Smith, responds "Let's just say she's "One in a million, Literally." The tag line reads, "Mrs. Smith always looks for the positive ways to describe the uniqueness of each student."
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- Title
- Oops!
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two men on a sidewalk one in a wheelchair and one behind the wheelchair holding the handles no longer attached to the back of the wheelchair. As the wheelchair speeds away the man in the chair has his hands up in the air and a frightened look on his face. The man behind the...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two men on a sidewalk one in a wheelchair and one behind the wheelchair holding the handles no longer attached to the back of the wheelchair. As the wheelchair speeds away the man in the chair has his hands up in the air and a frightened look on his face. The man behind the wheelchair has a huge eyes and says "Oops!" The tag line reads "Harold regrets not attending the in-service on wheelchair safety."
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- Title
- Pants down
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a man with his pants down around his ankles wearing blue boxers with red hearts on them. He has a file in his hand and papers have fallen out on the floor that are labeled, "IEP." The man is saying "OOOOPS!" The tag line reads, "Are you prepared for all your students? Don't be...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a man with his pants down around his ankles wearing blue boxers with red hearts on them. He has a file in his hand and papers have fallen out on the floor that are labeled, "IEP." The man is saying "OOOOPS!" The tag line reads, "Are you prepared for all your students? Don't be caught with your pants down!"
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- Title
- Parapro Door
- Date Created
- 2007
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a person who has opened a door with a sign over the top that says "Paraprofessional Issues." With door opened it reveals a cluttered mess of objects (e.g., ladder, bike, sports equipment) and boxes with labels including: self-determination, family issues, peer supports, teacher...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a person who has opened a door with a sign over the top that says "Paraprofessional Issues." With door opened it reveals a cluttered mess of objects (e.g., ladder, bike, sports equipment) and boxes with labels including: self-determination, family issues, peer supports, teacher engagement, access to general education, teaching formats, special educator caseload. The person who has opened the door says, "Wow! I never realized all this was in here." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Going in through the paraprofessional door."
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- Title
- Parapro Supports
- Date Created
- 2010-2013
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a teacher sitting across from an administrator at his desk. The teacher says, "I have a question about some classroom supports I need." The administrator replies, "To save us time, effort, and expense, I have predetermined a range of options to address all teacher support...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher sitting across from an administrator at his desk. The teacher says, "I have a question about some classroom supports I need." The administrator replies, "To save us time, effort, and expense, I have predetermined a range of options to address all teacher support questions: 1. A full-time parapro, 2. A part-time parapro, 3. No parapro. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Parapro Supports: An answer, not the answer."
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- Title
- PEACE
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two people dressed in shirts that have half a peace signs on them. They are standing with an arm around each others shoulders so that the peace sign is whole. They have flowers in their hair and are showing the peace sign with their free hands. The tag line reads "Purposeful,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two people dressed in shirts that have half a peace signs on them. They are standing with an arm around each others shoulders so that the peace sign is whole. They have flowers in their hair and are showing the peace sign with their free hands. The tag line reads "Purposeful, Educational Accommodations, Creating, Excellence" the first letter of each word spell out PEACE. The note on the left says, "Inspired by Melanie Giangreco & Amanda Dana"
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- Title
- Pedaling
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a man working hard riding a bike. He is holding the brakes on and there is smoke coming from the brake pads. There are two turtles in the foreground of the panel walking a little faster than the bike rider and looking up at him. The tag line reads "Generating and evaluating...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a man working hard riding a bike. He is holding the brakes on and there is smoke coming from the brake pads. There are two turtles in the foreground of the panel walking a little faster than the bike rider and looking up at him. The tag line reads "Generating and evaluating ideas simultaneously is like trying to ride a bike by pedaling with the brakes on."
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- Title
- Peers Resort to Subversive Tactics
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows three middle grades students seated at a table and talking to each other. The first student says, "Can you believe Harry has to spend all day with grown-ups?" The second student says, "Bummer man." The third student says, "I've...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The top panel shows three middle grades students seated at a table and talking to each other. The first student says, "Can you believe Harry has to spend all day with grown-ups?" The second student says, "Bummer man." The third student says, "I've got an idea. You distract the assistant..." In the lower panel one student waves to an assistant and calls out "Excuse me!" While the assistant's back is turned, the other two students quickly push a visibly happy Harry away while saying, "Let's go Harry!" The tag line reads, "Peers resort to subversive tactics."
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- Title
- Peg's Question
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a young girl sitting on her mother's lap in an overstuffed arm chair with a lamp and end table next to it. The child says to her mother, "Mom, there's a boy in my class with disabilities. Weren't there any kids with disabilities where we used to live?" The tag line reads, "Peg...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a young girl sitting on her mother's lap in an overstuffed arm chair with a lamp and end table next to it. The child says to her mother, "Mom, there's a boy in my class with disabilities. Weren't there any kids with disabilities where we used to live?" The tag line reads, "Peg doesn't know that the kids with disabilities in her old district were sent to special education schools." The note on the side indicates, "Inspired by Peg Smith."
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- Title
- Perfect Teaching Assistant
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon has an octopus wearing glasses sitting across a desk from Mr. Moody. Mr. Moody says to the Octopus "You are hired you can start today!" The tag line for the cartoon is "After an exhaustive search, Mr. Moody finds the perfect teaching assistant for Mrs. Snippett."
- Title
- Periscope
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two panels. In the first panel there is a man sitting in a wheelchair looking at everyone's legs. The second panel shows the man in the wheelchair with a periscope and all the faces and upper parts of the other peoples bodies. The tagline reads "Joe thinks a periscope should...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two panels. In the first panel there is a man sitting in a wheelchair looking at everyone's legs. The second panel shows the man in the wheelchair with a periscope and all the faces and upper parts of the other peoples bodies. The tagline reads "Joe thinks a periscope should come as standard equipment with every wheelchair."
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- Title
- Piece of Cake
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two teachers standing to the right side of the panel with their backs to a gigantic piece of layer cake, the size of a three-story building. On the top icing of the cake is written, "Other Duties." The top layer of cake it labeled, "IEP," the icing between the layers is labeled ...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two teachers standing to the right side of the panel with their backs to a gigantic piece of layer cake, the size of a three-story building. On the top icing of the cake is written, "Other Duties." The top layer of cake it labeled, "IEP," the icing between the layers is labeled "Meetings," the middle layer is labeled "504," another layer of icing labeled "Meetings," and the bottom layer labeled "At Risk." One of the teachers is saying to the other, "Don't worry about your caseload this year. It's a piece of cake!" To which the other teacher responds "Thanks!" The tag line reads, "How much cake can one person eat?"
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- Title
- Placement Matters
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a car driving away with a bird nest on the tire and the bird flapping her wings and trying to fly away. The tag line reads "Examples from nature remind us that placement really does matter." A note on the left says, "Inspired by a robin in my yard."
- Title
- Poultry Puns
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a teacher in front of a class full of students. The students all have their hands up and they are all saying, "I'm done!" the teacher responds with, "Turkeys are 'done' people are 'finished!' Based on you work, I should give you all 'Goose eggs!' But since I'm 'Mr. Eggstra-nice...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a teacher in front of a class full of students. The students all have their hands up and they are all saying, "I'm done!" the teacher responds with, "Turkeys are 'done' people are 'finished!' Based on you work, I should give you all 'Goose eggs!' But since I'm 'Mr. Eggstra-nice-guy,' I'll let you do it over!" the tag line reads, "What happens when teachers become obsessed with poultry puns."
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- Title
- Power of Test Results
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels with nearly identical images showing a teacher and occupational therapist talking about a student. In the upper frame the occupational therapist asks, "How have you found Sarah's handwriting?" The teacher replies, "Actually, it's quite good. In fact, it's as good or...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels with nearly identical images showing a teacher and occupational therapist talking about a student. In the upper frame the occupational therapist asks, "How have you found Sarah's handwriting?" The teacher replies, "Actually, it's quite good. In fact, it's as good or better than the other 2nd graders." In the lower frame the occupational therapist replies, "The results of my OT evaluation indicate substantial visual-perceptual-motor delays. She'll need special seating, a slant board, a special pencil grip, and an hour a week of direct therapy." The teacher seems surprised, but acquiesces and says, "She seems to be doing fine... but you're the expert!" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mrs. Baker questions her 20 years of experience as a second grade teacher and succumbs to the awesome power of test results."
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- Title
- PT Dreams
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows the face of a physical therapist asleep with eyes closed. Coming from the therapist's head is dream bubble; inside three larger cylindrical bolster and two parents. The mother says to the father, "What should we do tonight with the kids?" The father says, "Let's break out the...
Show moreThis cartoon shows the face of a physical therapist asleep with eyes closed. Coming from the therapist's head is dream bubble; inside three larger cylindrical bolster and two parents. The mother says to the father, "What should we do tonight with the kids?" The father says, "Let's break out the bolsters, sit astride them, displace each other laterally and see if we can correct to midline." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Only in a Physical Therapist's Dream."
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- Title
- Quick Guide!
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows an old western scene in a desert landscape dotted with cactus plants. A stage coach off in the distance headed west toward the setting un. Two cowboys on horseback are racing on the road to catch up with it. The cowboy on the left says, "Quick, Guide! Catch up with that coach on...
Show moreThe cartoon shows an old western scene in a desert landscape dotted with cactus plants. A stage coach off in the distance headed west toward the setting un. Two cowboys on horseback are racing on the road to catch up with it. The cowboy on the left says, "Quick, Guide! Catch up with that coach on the vista!" The cowboy on the right replies, "What's the hurry?? Have you got ants in your pants?" The tag lines reads,"Harvey follows the coach on the path toward Inclusionville."
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- Title
- Raising the Bar
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a winding path with the word "curriculum" written on it leading to a pole vault bar, with judge standing on either side. Above the bar it says, "standards" and below the bar it says, "assessments." There is a pole vaulter attempting to clear the bar, but he has missed and hit...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a winding path with the word "curriculum" written on it leading to a pole vault bar, with judge standing on either side. Above the bar it says, "standards" and below the bar it says, "assessments." There is a pole vaulter attempting to clear the bar, but he has missed and hit one of the uprights on the side and loudly exclaims, "OUCH!" The tag line reads, "Raising the bar has a chance only when curriculum, assessment and instruction are aligned."
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