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
- Cloning (Paraprofessional)
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great paraprofessional." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical...
Show moreThis cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great paraprofessional." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical controversies Maggie favors human cloning."
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- Title
- Cloning (Special Educator)
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great special educator." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical...
Show moreThis cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great special educator." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical controversies Maggie favors human cloning."
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- Title
- Cloning (Therapist)
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great therapist." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical...
Show moreThis cartoon shows one educator talking to another who is holding a test tube. The first educator asks, "What's in the test tube?" The other educator replies, "A small skin sample from Mrs. Keegan, she's a great therapist." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical controversies Maggie favors human cloning."
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- Title
- Collaboration Myths
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two people in a room, one person is standing and the other is sitting at a table writing. The person standing is shocked by what he sees (the other person completing the IEP before the meeting with team has started) says, "What are you doing?! Don't you know doing that by...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two people in a room, one person is standing and the other is sitting at a table writing. The person standing is shocked by what he sees (the other person completing the IEP before the meeting with team has started) says, "What are you doing?! Don't you know doing that by yourself can make you go blind?!" The person seated at the table is turning red in he face (showing his embarrassment) and responds, "Really?! I was just trying to get some things taken care of before the team arrived." The tag line reads, "Disability myths spawn collaboration myths."
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- Title
- Coming Out of the Closet
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two teachers looking at a line graph inside a closest. They are surprised by someone opening the door. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Charlotte and Maggie consider coming out of the closest about their graphing tendencies."
- Title
- Common Denominator
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a chalkboard with a complicated equation on it. There is a woman sitting on a chair in front of the chalkboard, she has circled a statement in the denominator of the answer that says, "Kids lives will be better because they went to our school!" She exclaims, "I've Got It!" The...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a chalkboard with a complicated equation on it. There is a woman sitting on a chair in front of the chalkboard, she has circled a statement in the denominator of the answer that says, "Kids lives will be better because they went to our school!" She exclaims, "I've Got It!" The tag line reads, "Following fierce figuring and formulating Fern finds the common denominator of quality education."
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- Title
- Conditions
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two panels stacked vertically. In the top panel there is a man (Carl) walking down a sidewalk with a clipboard writing. Behind him is an open manhole with a "work area" sawhorse sign and a blind man (Jim) walking with a support cane. The panel below shows the Jim falling into...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two panels stacked vertically. In the top panel there is a man (Carl) walking down a sidewalk with a clipboard writing. Behind him is an open manhole with a "work area" sawhorse sign and a blind man (Jim) walking with a support cane. The panel below shows the Jim falling into the manhole and the Carl says, "I knew I should have paid more attention to the 'conditions' associated with that objective." The tag line reads "Carl Changes the 'conditions' in his objective: 'given a sidewalk route without an open manhole cover, Jim will safely walk from home to work...'"
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- Title
- Confusion Reigns
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a group of five educators standing out in the pouring rain. From left to right they are doing and saying the following: The first person is holding rolled up diplomas and says, "We've got the skills!" The is holding a bunch of carrots and says, "We've got the incentives." The...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a group of five educators standing out in the pouring rain. From left to right they are doing and saying the following: The first person is holding rolled up diplomas and says, "We've got the skills!" The is holding a bunch of carrots and says, "We've got the incentives." The man in the middle is holding a bag of money and says, "We've got the resources!" The next is holding a piece of paper and says, "We've got the plan!" The person on the far right is throwing his hands up in the air while saying, "But where are we headed?" The tag line reads, "Without a vision confusion reigns!"
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- Title
- Cookbook Recipes
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a person dressed as a chef attempting to follow a recipe from a book titled "Inclusion Cookbook." The scene in the kitchen is chaotic and messy (e.g., broken eggs, spilled liquids), with equipment and food strewn about in disarray. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a person dressed as a chef attempting to follow a recipe from a book titled "Inclusion Cookbook." The scene in the kitchen is chaotic and messy (e.g., broken eggs, spilled liquids), with equipment and food strewn about in disarray. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After several attempts, Fred begins to realize that cookbook recipes for inclusion just don't work."
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- Title
- Corporate Sponsorship
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two people one in a wheelchair and one pushing the wheelchair wearing a sandwich board. On the sandwich board it says "Edna's House of Thimbles" The tag line reads "In an effort to cut the costs of special education, Central High School pursues corporate sponsorship for each of...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two people one in a wheelchair and one pushing the wheelchair wearing a sandwich board. On the sandwich board it says "Edna's House of Thimbles" The tag line reads "In an effort to cut the costs of special education, Central High School pursues corporate sponsorship for each of its staff."
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- Title
- Counter Intelligence
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a diner counter with a waitress behind the counter serving a man some coffee. The man sitting at the counter says, "Is the rumor true that the new guy who works here has a low IQ?" The waitress replies, "I don't know and it doesn't really matter. IQ doesn't tell you anything...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a diner counter with a waitress behind the counter serving a man some coffee. The man sitting at the counter says, "Is the rumor true that the new guy who works here has a low IQ?" The waitress replies, "I don't know and it doesn't really matter. IQ doesn't tell you anything about who a person is. I know him. He's a good worker and a great guy." The tag line reads, "Counter Intelligence."
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- Title
- Crocodile
- Date Created
- 2007
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two people, one being a paraprofessional and the other a colleague, walking down a stone-lined path toward the water's edge. As they approach the water the white stones lining the path turn into teeth and the path turns into a tongue as the two walk into a wide open mouth of a...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two people, one being a paraprofessional and the other a colleague, walking down a stone-lined path toward the water's edge. As they approach the water the white stones lining the path turn into teeth and the path turns into a tongue as the two walk into a wide open mouth of a giant crocodile. The paraprofessional, with trepidation on her face says, "After such a brief training, am I really ready?" Her colleague assures her, "No worries. You've just completed our basic parapro training -- you're good to go!" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Beware of the training trap, you could be eaten alive!"
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- Title
- Crystal Ball
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a Gypsy wearing a turban looking into a crystal ball. The Gypsy says "I see two sessions of PT, OT, and Speech Therapy weekly." The tag line reads, "The district's experimental method for determining related services works just as well as making those decisions before knowing...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a Gypsy wearing a turban looking into a crystal ball. The Gypsy says "I see two sessions of PT, OT, and Speech Therapy weekly." The tag line reads, "The district's experimental method for determining related services works just as well as making those decisions before knowing student's IEP goals and other learning outcomes."
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- Title
- Cut and Dried
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a special educator outside on a rural property hanging up laundry on a clothes line. He is using clothes pins to hang up three long strips; each one has one letter on it, I-E-P. The tag line under the cartoon reads, " The most recent computerized IEPs are too cut and dried."
- Title
- Dart Board
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows two men in front of a dart board. On the dart board there are 6 sections, there are pieces of paper tacked in each section. The papers say in clockwise order, River Rd, Central High, West Middle, Grand Ave, Main Street, and East Middle The Man in the lower left corner of the...
Show moreThe cartoon shows two men in front of a dart board. On the dart board there are 6 sections, there are pieces of paper tacked in each section. The papers say in clockwise order, River Rd, Central High, West Middle, Grand Ave, Main Street, and East Middle The Man in the lower left corner of the panel reads from a list in his hand and says, "Next is April Baker, occupational therapist. Where will we assign her next year?" The man in the lower right corner has a blindfold on and is holding a dart in his right hand ready to throw it at the dart board. He says, "Let's find out!" The tag line reads "Parents finally discover why their children seem to have new support staff every year."
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- Title
- Desperate Measures
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a panel with a banner at the top that says, "Math Standards" bordered on the top and bottom with a variety of math symbols. On the left of the panel is a ruler saying, "So, you're willing to do whatever it takes to meet the standards?" Next to the ruler at the bottom middle of...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a panel with a banner at the top that says, "Math Standards" bordered on the top and bottom with a variety of math symbols. On the left of the panel is a ruler saying, "So, you're willing to do whatever it takes to meet the standards?" Next to the ruler at the bottom middle of the panel is a measuring cup who is saying, "Just name it we'll do it." and on the right side of the panel is a set square saying, "Please, we'll do anything you say." The tag line reads, "Desperate Measures."
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- Title
- Devil's Advocate
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows four people seated at round table for a meeting; two are parents who have a child with a disability, the school principal, and the devil (shown as all in red, with horns, wearing a cape, and holding a pitchfork). The principal is sitting next to the devil with hand on his back...
Show moreThis cartoon shows four people seated at round table for a meeting; two are parents who have a child with a disability, the school principal, and the devil (shown as all in red, with horns, wearing a cape, and holding a pitchfork). The principal is sitting next to the devil with hand on his back while saying, "Mr. & Mrs. Grey, I'd like you to meet Lu." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Principal Moody introduces the school district's new advocate to defend exclusion."
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- Title
- Diagnosis Du Jour
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a restaurant host standing inside the entrance holding a menu in one hand with a white towel draped over his other arm while saying, "These are our specials... " Next to him is self-standing sandwich board labeled, "Today's Specials." The first three listed specials (LD, EBD,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a restaurant host standing inside the entrance holding a menu in one hand with a white towel draped over his other arm while saying, "These are our specials... " Next to him is self-standing sandwich board labeled, "Today's Specials." The first three listed specials (LD, EBD, ADHD) are all crossed out and marked "Sold Out." The last item on the list is Autism -- it's the only one not sold out. The tag line reads, "Diagnosis Du Jour."
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- Title
- Dictionary of Special Ed Jargon
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a father sitting in an overstuffed arm chair with lamp on next to him while he reads a book titled, "Dictionary of Special Education Jargon." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mr. Green prepares for his child's IEP meeting."
- Title
- Dieting
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a man in a wheelchair and a woman with crutches talking on a corner at an intersection next to a street sign. One sign says "Diet Lane" and the other sign says "Rehab Way." The woman says to the man, "I tell all my friends with disabilities, "Never get therapy from a P.T. on a...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a man in a wheelchair and a woman with crutches talking on a corner at an intersection next to a street sign. One sign says "Diet Lane" and the other sign says "Rehab Way." The woman says to the man, "I tell all my friends with disabilities, "Never get therapy from a P.T. on a diet." The man replies, "You're right! If she doesn't like her own body, she sure won't like ours!" The tag lines reads "The intersection where dieting and rehabilitation meet."
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