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
- 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
- Natural Support
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a man sitting at a desk talking on the phone in a room full of boxes of 100% cotton sports bras and 100% cotton jock straps. The man says to the person on the phone, "What do you mean I got the wrong thing?!" The tag line reads "Natural Supports Breathe; when used appropriately,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a man sitting at a desk talking on the phone in a room full of boxes of 100% cotton sports bras and 100% cotton jock straps. The man says to the person on the phone, "What do you mean I got the wrong thing?!" The tag line reads "Natural Supports Breathe; when used appropriately, they make things feel more comfortable."
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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
- No Dumping!
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a large red circle with a diagonal slash across an image of a dump truck that is dumping kids with disabilities at the front door of a school. The sign on the truck says, "We Haul That's All" The woman at the front of the school is yelling, "Hey Wait!" and the truck driver says...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a large red circle with a diagonal slash across an image of a dump truck that is dumping kids with disabilities at the front door of a school. The sign on the truck says, "We Haul That's All" The woman at the front of the school is yelling, "Hey Wait!" and the truck driver says back to her, "Sorry, supports not included in cost of delivery." The tag lines reads, "NO DUMPING!"
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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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- 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
- Option Paralysis
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a principal of a school standing on the left side of the panel in an office with a woman in the lower right corner of the panel. There is a table and chairs and papers on the table. The principal holds a very long list and says "In planning your daughter's IEP, we'd like you to...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a principal of a school standing on the left side of the panel in an office with a woman in the lower right corner of the panel. There is a table and chairs and papers on the table. The principal holds a very long list and says "In planning your daughter's IEP, we'd like you to chose from this comprehensive list of 13,941 learning outcomes." The woman looks at the principal. She is overwhelmed and has with huge confused eyes. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mrs. Baker Experiences 'Option Paralysis'."
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