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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(241 - 260 of 340)
Pages
- 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
- 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."
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- 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
- 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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- Title
- The Real World
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
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
- Reasonable Affective Disorder
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a room of people sitting on chairs facing the front of the room where a panel of people sit behind a long table. A sign on the right of the frame says, "Welcome support Group Q & A." A man in the front row puts up his hand and asks, "At a meeting last February I encountered a...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a room of people sitting on chairs facing the front of the room where a panel of people sit behind a long table. A sign on the right of the frame says, "Welcome support Group Q & A." A man in the front row puts up his hand and asks, "At a meeting last February I encountered a person who was uncharacteristically sad, moody and unreasonable. How can I handle such a situations in the future?" A person on the panel replies, "Sounds like you encountered a variation on a common problem. For winter meetings, we suggest you bring one of these full spectrum lights." (which he has turned sending a light toward the audience). The tag line reads, "Consumers encounter staff with reasonable affective disorder."
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- 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
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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
- Rock and a Hard Place
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows an administrator, dressed in a suit, being squished between a brick wall and a giant boulder. There is a sign on the wall that says, "Board of Education" and three arms, coming in from the left side of the panel, pushing the boulder into the man. There is writing on each of the...
Show moreThe cartoon shows an administrator, dressed in a suit, being squished between a brick wall and a giant boulder. There is a sign on the wall that says, "Board of Education" and three arms, coming in from the left side of the panel, pushing the boulder into the man. There is writing on each of the three arms which read, "Parents," "Teachers," and "Advocates." The tag line reads, "School administrators often find themselves between a rock and a hard place."
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- 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."
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- 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."
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- 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."
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- Title
- School Calendar
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two people, a man and woman, looking at the school calendar. The man is pointing at the calendar and says to the woman "Have you seen the proposed school calendar? We have 10 days for teaching and 185 days for testing." The woman replies "Well, at least it's fewer lessons to...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two people, a man and woman, looking at the school calendar. The man is pointing at the calendar and says to the woman "Have you seen the proposed school calendar? We have 10 days for teaching and 185 days for testing." The woman replies "Well, at least it's fewer lessons to plan." The tag line reads "Based on current political trends, within two decades 95% of the school year will be devoted to testing."
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- Title
- School Lunch Atrocities
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
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
- School Psychologists
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a table with testing kits and fire extinguishers. Two women are in the panel and one person outside the panel says, "Hurry up! We've got a problem!" One woman rushes toward the voice carrying a fire extinguisher and testing kit saying, "I'm coming!" The women near the table...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a table with testing kits and fire extinguishers. Two women are in the panel and one person outside the panel says, "Hurry up! We've got a problem!" One woman rushes toward the voice carrying a fire extinguisher and testing kit saying, "I'm coming!" The women near the table calls out, "Next!" The tag line reads "All of the district's school psychologists are supplied with equipment to carry out their two most common functions."
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- Title
- Search Committee
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
Four search committee members are seated at a round table. The first person says, "Any other suggested criteria for hiring a candidate for the position?" The second person who is holding up a book to show them called Ants in His Pants Absurdities and Realities of Special Education says, "I think...
Show moreFour search committee members are seated at a round table. The first person says, "Any other suggested criteria for hiring a candidate for the position?" The second person who is holding up a book to show them called Ants in His Pants Absurdities and Realities of Special Education says, "I think we should show them a bunch of educational cartoons. If they laugh, they move on to the interview round; if not, it's ciao for now." The third person says, "O.K." The last persons says, "Sounds good." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Search committee members recognize that to be effective in schools it helps to have a good sense of humor."
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- 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."
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