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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(161 - 180 of 340)
Pages
- Title
- Laboratory Retriever
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a group of people sitting around a lab table with scientific instruments in front of them. One person is in a wheelchair and a happy (tail-wagging) dog standing on it's hind legs with it's paws on the table is handing him an instrument with his mouth. The person in the...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a group of people sitting around a lab table with scientific instruments in front of them. One person is in a wheelchair and a happy (tail-wagging) dog standing on it's hind legs with it's paws on the table is handing him an instrument with his mouth. The person in the wheelchair says, "Thanks!" The tag line reads, "Laboratory Retriever."
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- Title
- Lady Justice
- Date Created
- 2007
- Description
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This cartoon shows a car driver's view of their external side mirror. Inside the car you only see the hand and arm of a white man wearing a suit and dress shirt on the steering wheel. In the mirror you see brown-skinned Lady Justice, blindfolded, in a purple wheelchair coming fast. The tag line...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a car driver's view of their external side mirror. Inside the car you only see the hand and arm of a white man wearing a suit and dress shirt on the steering wheel. In the mirror you see brown-skinned Lady Justice, blindfolded, in a purple wheelchair coming fast. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."
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- Title
- Large Caseloads
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows a woman sitting at a desk in the dark with just one light on, papers all around and a calculator in her hands. She says "Looks like I have an average of six minutes a day to support each of my students with disabilities in regular class. That includes planning, assessing,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a woman sitting at a desk in the dark with just one light on, papers all around and a calculator in her hands. She says "Looks like I have an average of six minutes a day to support each of my students with disabilities in regular class. That includes planning, assessing, adapting, teaching, consulting, evaluating, communicating with parents, supervising paraprofessionals..." The tag line reads "Large caseloads for special educators: The numbers just don't add up!"
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- Title
- Last straw
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a two-humped camel and a person standing on a stool loading files onto the camels back in the space between the humps. The load is so heavy that the camel yells out, "Ouch! My Back!" The person putting the files on its back says, "Just one more!" The tag line reads, "Practice...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a two-humped camel and a person standing on a stool loading files onto the camels back in the space between the humps. The load is so heavy that the camel yells out, "Ouch! My Back!" The person putting the files on its back says, "Just one more!" The tag line reads, "Practice preventing problems: Find out what the last straw will be before it's too late."
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- Title
- Lawyers Part of Every Day
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon shows a teacher at the door of her classroom with slightly confused look of her face as she says, "Can I help you?" to a man at her door. The man is carrying a brief case that is labeled with the words "Threats, Intimidation, Legalese, Coercion" and he says to the teacher, "Yes, I'm...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher at the door of her classroom with slightly confused look of her face as she says, "Can I help you?" to a man at her door. The man is carrying a brief case that is labeled with the words "Threats, Intimidation, Legalese, Coercion" and he says to the teacher, "Yes, I'm Bill M. Hourly, Esquire. I'm here to ensure collaboration for Joey's inclusion through adversarial methods." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "The Bar Association proposes an amendment to IDEA requiring that lawyers be part of every child's IEP team."
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- Title
- Lead Balloons
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows a woman standing with her hands on her hips looking worried. There are a lot of balloons floating up into the air and four just sitting there in front of her. The one on the far left is blue and says "More Paperwork," the next one is green and says "Too Many Adults," the next...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a woman standing with her hands on her hips looking worried. There are a lot of balloons floating up into the air and four just sitting there in front of her. The one on the far left is blue and says "More Paperwork," the next one is green and says "Too Many Adults," the next one is red and says "More Meetings," the next one is pink and says "Bigger Caseloads." The tag line reads "The Lead Balloons of Special Education."
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- Title
- Learning Not to Make a Move
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon has four panels arranged in a square pattern. The images each show a student with a plate of food and utensils in front of him and a paraprofessional next to him. In the top left corner the paraprofessional says, "Pick up the spoon." The upper right panel shows the student with the...
Show moreThis cartoon has four panels arranged in a square pattern. The images each show a student with a plate of food and utensils in front of him and a paraprofessional next to him. In the top left corner the paraprofessional says, "Pick up the spoon." The upper right panel shows the student with the spoon in his hand and the paraprofessional says, "Scoop the food." In the lower left panel the student has scooped the food and the paraprofessional says, "Now raise the spoon..." In the lower right panel as student has raised the spoon partially, the paraprofessional says, "To the mouth." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Rodney learns not to make a move until he is told."
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- Title
- Learning the Ropes
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows a woman and child both are tangled up in ropes. The woman looks confused and the child looks angry. Tag line for the cartoon is "What can happen when Paraprofessional are left to learn the ropes without appropriate training and supervision."
- Title
- Legislative Practical Jokes
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a legislative gallery-style room. There is a woman standing at the podium in the middle of the room saying, "Gentleladies and Gentlemen, the session will come to order." A man and woman in the front row are whispering to each other. The woman says "I'm sooooo bored! What can we...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a legislative gallery-style room. There is a woman standing at the podium in the middle of the room saying, "Gentleladies and Gentlemen, the session will come to order." A man and woman in the front row are whispering to each other. The woman says "I'm sooooo bored! What can we do to have some fun?" The man sitting next to her whispers, "Hmmmm. I know! Let's propose another unfunded mandate!" The tag line reads, "Legislative Practical Jokes."
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- Title
- Lesson League
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a classroom with a teacher standing at the chalkboard in front of a class of kids. One of the kids in the front row is holding up a tape recorder and asks, "Mrs. Johnson, is it OK if I tape today's lesson?" Mrs. Johnson replies, "This lesson is intended for the private use of my...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a classroom with a teacher standing at the chalkboard in front of a class of kids. One of the kids in the front row is holding up a tape recorder and asks, "Mrs. Johnson, is it OK if I tape today's lesson?" Mrs. Johnson replies, "This lesson is intended for the private use of my class. Any rebroadcast or other use of this lesson without the express written consent of the national teacher lesson league is strictly prohibited." The tag line reads, "Simple accommodations in the age of litigation."
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- Title
- Let me help you with that!
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a paraprofessional and student seated together at a table with no other students. The paraprofessional is happily working on a class project cutting materials with scissors as she says, Let me help you with that!" The student, with a disappointed look on her face and none of...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a paraprofessional and student seated together at a table with no other students. The paraprofessional is happily working on a class project cutting materials with scissors as she says, Let me help you with that!" The student, with a disappointed look on her face and none of the materials available to her says, "But when do I get a turn?" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After only two months as a teacher assistant, Gladys finds her spelling has improved, math skills are honed, and she has discovered she has artistic ability."
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- Title
- Let's Play Due Process
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows three people in the front of the frame in shadow listening to a man standing behind a podium. There is a sign on the wall behind the man at the podium that reads "Let's Play Due Process!" The man at the podium says "OK teams, let's review the rules..." The tag line reads "DUE...
Show moreThe cartoon shows three people in the front of the frame in shadow listening to a man standing behind a podium. There is a sign on the wall behind the man at the podium that reads "Let's Play Due Process!" The man at the podium says "OK teams, let's review the rules..." The tag line reads "DUE PROCESS the game where everybody gets a turn, nobody has fun, and, even if you win, you feel like you've lost!"
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- Title
- Limitations of Homogeneous Grouping
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon has two frames stacked vertically. The top frame shows a special education pushing two students in wheelchairs simultaneously while leaving a third behind; he says, "Jimmy - I’ll be right back to get you!" In the bottom frame he goes back to get Jimmy, now pushing him while having...
Show moreThis cartoon has two frames stacked vertically. The top frame shows a special education pushing two students in wheelchairs simultaneously while leaving a third behind; he says, "Jimmy - I’ll be right back to get you!" In the bottom frame he goes back to get Jimmy, now pushing him while having left the other two students a few feet ahead; he says to them, "OK guys. Once we get up there I can move you 10 more feet toward the cafeteria." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "One of the many practical limitations of homogeneous grouping."
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- Title
- Line in the Sand
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels offset stepwise. In the upper panel five children are the beach. Three children have used a stick to draw a line in the sand where they are on one side and on the other side are two other children looking sad, one of whom is seated in a wheelchair. In the lower panel...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels offset stepwise. In the upper panel five children are the beach. Three children have used a stick to draw a line in the sand where they are on one side and on the other side are two other children looking sad, one of whom is seated in a wheelchair. In the lower panel all five students are inside a circle that has been drawn in the sand. The tag line reads, "Marc give new meaning to drawing a line in the sand."
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- Title
- Little League
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows teammates sitting on the bench at a baseball game as they watch their teammate, Marty, up at bat while umpire behind the catcher calls out, "That's ball four." One teammate on the bench says, "Marty hardly ever swings at the ball. Is that because of his disability?" Another...
Show moreThis cartoon shows teammates sitting on the bench at a baseball game as they watch their teammate, Marty, up at bat while umpire behind the catcher calls out, "That's ball four." One teammate on the bench says, "Marty hardly ever swings at the ball. Is that because of his disability?" Another teammate says, "I don't know -- but he has the highest on-base percentage of anyone on the team." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Little League Teammates learn there are many ways to contribute."
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- Title
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a shop full of all kinds of antiquated and aversive behavioral implements such as a white noise chamber, straight jackets, ammonia spray, zappers, paddles, tranquilizing medication, and chairs with restraining belts. The tag line reads, "Little Shop of Horrors."
- Title
- Lobsterville
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a boy being greeted by man who has one hand that looks like a lobster claw in front of a building that looks like a gigantic lobster trap with a giant lobster already caught inside. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mr. Crusty welcomes Fred to the Lobsterville Special...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a boy being greeted by man who has one hand that looks like a lobster claw in front of a building that looks like a gigantic lobster trap with a giant lobster already caught inside. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mr. Crusty welcomes Fred to the Lobsterville Special Education Center where their motto is 'You can get in, but you can't get out!'"
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- Title
- Lone Ranger
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a man dressed as a cowboy with a sheriff star on his shirt riding a hobby horse. He is saying, "Hi oh Silver, Away!" The tag line reads, "The Lone Ranger of Teamwork: A team of one gets a little done." A tag line on the left reads, "Inspired by Linda Backus."
- Title
- Long Arm of the Law
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a crowd of people at a conference. The title of the conference on a banner reads, "Welcome to the IDEA Violators Annual Conference." There is a sandwich board that reads, "Keynote: How to Avoid Compliance and Penalties at the Same Time." There is a long shadow of an arm reaching...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a crowd of people at a conference. The title of the conference on a banner reads, "Welcome to the IDEA Violators Annual Conference." There is a sandwich board that reads, "Keynote: How to Avoid Compliance and Penalties at the Same Time." There is a long shadow of an arm reaching toward the crowd. The tag line reads, "When it comes to enforcing IDEA, The long arm of the law isn't long enough."
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- Title
- Longevity
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two men one handing the other a "Special Longevity Award." The man on the right of the panel is saying "Thank you for your dedicated service. Please, Pleeeease don't leave." The man receiving the award says "I don't understand. I just started working 3 months ago!" The tag line...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two men one handing the other a "Special Longevity Award." The man on the right of the panel is saying "Thank you for your dedicated service. Please, Pleeeease don't leave." The man receiving the award says "I don't understand. I just started working 3 months ago!" The tag line reads "Reducing Turnover: Education officials implement part of their early intervention program." The note on the left says, "Inspired by Dennis Kane."
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