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
- PT Dreams
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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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
- Pulling in Different Directions
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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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."
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- Title
- The Real World
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The upper panel shows the school principal saying, "Congratulations Larry! Again this year you have achieved all your IEP goals!" Larry says, "Thank You!" The lower panel shows Larry sitting across a desk from an employment specialist who says, "I'm...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The upper panel shows the school principal saying, "Congratulations Larry! Again this year you have achieved all your IEP goals!" Larry says, "Thank You!" The lower panel shows Larry sitting across a desk from an employment specialist who says, "I'm sorry. You're not prepared for a real job." Larry is surprised and replies, "How can that be? I've achieved all of my IEP goals!" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Larry learns the hard way that school and the real world don't always see success the same way."
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- Title
- Reptilian Responses
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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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
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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."
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- Title
- Rubber Stamp
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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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."
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- Title
- School Lunch Atrocities
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon shows a paraprofessional preparing lunch for a student with disabilities by dumping the entire school lunch into a blender, while saying, "Let's see, a cheeseburger, green beans, applesauce, and chocolate milk. Won't this be yummy? Into the blender it goes." In the foreground a...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a paraprofessional preparing lunch for a student with disabilities by dumping the entire school lunch into a blender, while saying, "Let's see, a cheeseburger, green beans, applesauce, and chocolate milk. Won't this be yummy? Into the blender it goes." In the foreground a student in a wheelchair looks very worried and classmate is bent over gagging while saying, "That's Gu-ross! You're not going to make him eat that?" The tag line below the cartoon reads, "School Lunch Atrocities."
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- Title
- Secret Ballot
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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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."
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- Title
- Self-Reflection
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon show a teacher looking at himself in a full length mirror. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After spending 10 minutes each afternoon in front of a full-length mirror, Alan still isn't sure why self-reflection is so important to good teaching."
- Title
- Severely Dysfunctional Team
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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The cartoon shows three team members walking down three separate hallways from a common intersection -- each carrying a dismembered body part. The occupational therapist is carrying two arms; the speech-language pathologist is carrying a head; the physical therapist is carrying two legs. The tag...
Show moreThe cartoon shows three team members walking down three separate hallways from a common intersection -- each carrying a dismembered body part. The occupational therapist is carrying two arms; the speech-language pathologist is carrying a head; the physical therapist is carrying two legs. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Severely Dysfunctional Team."
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- Title
- Snailville
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon shows two giant snails sitting in chairs at a table with paperwork in front of each of them. The first snail says, "Those inclusive education radicals want everything yesterday. What do they expect?!" The second snail says, "I know what you mean, we've only had LRE provisions in the...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two giant snails sitting in chairs at a table with paperwork in front of each of them. The first snail says, "Those inclusive education radicals want everything yesterday. What do they expect?!" The second snail says, "I know what you mean, we've only had LRE provisions in the law since 1975!" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Administrators at Snailville School lament the speed of change." A note on the side indicates, "Inspired by Alan Gartner and Dorothy Kerzner Lipsky with help from Melanie Giangreco."
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- Title
- Sometimes numbers do lie
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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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!"
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- Title
- Space Jam / Space Maker
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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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."
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- Title
- Speaking Loudly
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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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."
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- 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."
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- Title
- Superwoman
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a teacher at her clothes closet and selecting a Superwoman costume (with the classic red S). The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After having successfully taught students with a wide range of characteristics, Ms. Miller decided to adjust her wardrobe to match her teaching...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher at her clothes closet and selecting a Superwoman costume (with the classic red S). The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After having successfully taught students with a wide range of characteristics, Ms. Miller decided to adjust her wardrobe to match her teaching confidence."
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- Title
- Supplies
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. In the top panel a smiling teacher greets a student who is wearing a backpack and says, "Hi Jimmy, welcome to the first day of school. I'm glad you brought your backpack with your supplies." In the second panel the same teacher now with a worried...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. In the top panel a smiling teacher greets a student who is wearing a backpack and says, "Hi Jimmy, welcome to the first day of school. I'm glad you brought your backpack with your supplies." In the second panel the same teacher now with a worried expression on her face greets a student with a disability and her mother who is pulling a long wagon filled high with all kinds of special equipment. The teacher says, "Hi Janie, Welcome to the first day of school. I see you've brought your supplies." Her mother says, "We'll bring the rest tomorrow." The tag line for the cartoon reads, "Mrs. Fine wonders if it is too late to request a larger classroom."
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- Title
- Swinging
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels offset stepwise. In the upper panel shows three friends standing at a swing set in the park. One friend says, "There are only two swings, and three of us!" Another of the friends says, "I have an idea!" In the lower panel the three friends have found a way to combine...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels offset stepwise. In the upper panel shows three friends standing at a swing set in the park. One friend says, "There are only two swings, and three of us!" Another of the friends says, "I have an idea!" In the lower panel the three friends have found a way to combine the two swings so all three are swinging as they are all smiling and saying, "WHEEEEE!!" The tag line reads, "Friends apply lessons of creative problem solving to everyday life."
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- Title
- Team of One
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has four panels arranged in a square pattern. Each panel shows a table with four chairs, three are empty and one is occupied by Marty. In the first frame Marty has just moved from one seat to another as he says, "And that's my idea!" In the second panel he quickly moves to a...
Show moreThis cartoon has four panels arranged in a square pattern. Each panel shows a table with four chairs, three are empty and one is occupied by Marty. In the first frame Marty has just moved from one seat to another as he says, "And that's my idea!" In the second panel he quickly moves to a different chair and says, "That's a very interesting idea!" In the third panel he again quickly moves to a different empty seat and says, "What if we did that every day? In the fourth panel he again quickly moves to a different empty seat and says, "And we could use it in science too! The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Marty continues to think of himself as a team of one."
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- Title
- Teamwork on Steroids
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon has two panels. In the upper panel three team members are hugging a person-sized smiling heart wearing sneakers with the label, "This is Collaborative Teamwork." In the lower panel the heart has been transformed into a menacing, muscular giant that dwarfs the three members in size as...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels. In the upper panel three team members are hugging a person-sized smiling heart wearing sneakers with the label, "This is Collaborative Teamwork." In the lower panel the heart has been transformed into a menacing, muscular giant that dwarfs the three members in size as they ran away from it in fear. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "This is collaborative teamwork on steroids."
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