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.
Show less
Pages
- Title
- Classroom Hamster
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a cage with a hamster on a stationary wheel and person's hand is reaching and putting shredded paper on the bottom. Above this image it reads, "The #1 Sign a Teacher Does Not Find a Consultant's Input Supportive." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Consultant's Report is...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a cage with a hamster on a stationary wheel and person's hand is reaching and putting shredded paper on the bottom. Above this image it reads, "The #1 Sign a Teacher Does Not Find a Consultant's Input Supportive." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Consultant's Report is Found Shredded as Bedding for the Classroom Hamster."
Show less
- Title
- Clearing a Path
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a school with children waiting at the bottom of the stairs for a school custodian to shovel the snow so that they can get into the building. A student in a wheelchair asks the custodian, "Could you please shovel the ramp?" he replies, "All these other kids are waiting to use the...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a school with children waiting at the bottom of the stairs for a school custodian to shovel the snow so that they can get into the building. A student in a wheelchair asks the custodian, "Could you please shovel the ramp?" he replies, "All these other kids are waiting to use the stairs. When I get through shoveling them off then I will clear the ramp for you." The student in the wheelchair replies back, "But if you shovel the ramp we can all get in!" The tag line reads, "Clearing a path for people with special needs clears the path for everyone!"
Show less
- Title
- Clearing the Path V2
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a school with children waiting at the bottom of the stairs for a school custodian to shovel the snow so that they can get into the building. A student in a wheelchair asks the custodian, "Could you please shovel the ramp?" he replies, "All these other kids are waiting to use the...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a school with children waiting at the bottom of the stairs for a school custodian to shovel the snow so that they can get into the building. A student in a wheelchair asks the custodian, "Could you please shovel the ramp?" he replies, "All these other kids are waiting to use the stairs. When I get through shoveling them off then I will clear the ramp for you." The student in the wheelchair replies back, "But if you shovel the ramp we can all get in!" The tag line reads, "Clearing a path for everyone!"
Show less
- 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."
Show less
- 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."
Show less
- Title
- Cloning (Teacher)
- 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 teacher." 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 teacher." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Despite the bio-ethical controversies Maggie favors human cloning." A note on the side indicates, "Inspired by Adelle Keegan."
Show less
- 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."
Show less
- 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."
Show less
- 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."
Show less
- 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...'"
Show less
- 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!"
Show less
- Title
- Consumer Evaluation
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a classroom full of children and a teacher at the front of the class writing on the chalk board. On the back of the teacher's shirt is an advertisement with a truck with the logo and the text, "How's my teaching? Call 800-teach." The tag line reads, "Schools adopt consumer...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a classroom full of children and a teacher at the front of the class writing on the chalk board. On the back of the teacher's shirt is an advertisement with a truck with the logo and the text, "How's my teaching? Call 800-teach." The tag line reads, "Schools adopt consumer evaluation techniques form industry."
Show less
- 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."
Show less
- 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."
Show less
- 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."
Show less
- Title
- Crazy Like a Fox
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a man holding a coffee cup and a clip board talking to a female fox. The man says "Are you crazy? Why do you keep requesting that students with disabilities be placed in your class?" The fox responds "Well, I enjoy the students, I learn a lot. Overall, it's helped me become a...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a man holding a coffee cup and a clip board talking to a female fox. The man says "Are you crazy? Why do you keep requesting that students with disabilities be placed in your class?" The fox responds "Well, I enjoy the students, I learn a lot. Overall, it's helped me become a better teacher for all my students." The tag line reads "Crazy Like a Fox."
Show less
- 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!"
Show less
- Title
- Crucial Test
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a scene inside the offices of the Acme Lie Detectors Service. Two men sitting at a table across from each other. One of the men is attached to a lie detector machine which is recoding his responses -- he has wires attached to his arm, is holding a glass of water, and looking...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a scene inside the offices of the Acme Lie Detectors Service. Two men sitting at a table across from each other. One of the men is attached to a lie detector machine which is recoding his responses -- he has wires attached to his arm, is holding a glass of water, and looking nervous. The tester from the agency in a lab coat is looking at a monitor and writing something on the display. He asks, "Do you like Children?" The tag line reads, "Prospective teachers of the future will need to pass this crucial test." A tag line on the left reads, "Inspired by Eileen Cichosky Kelly."
Show less
- 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."
Show less