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
- A, B, C's of Inclusion
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a chalkboard with three words stacked in a stepwise fashion and the first letter of each word much larger than the remaining letters; the words are Acceptance, Belonging, and Community. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "The ABC's of Inclusion". The note on the side...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a chalkboard with three words stacked in a stepwise fashion and the first letter of each word much larger than the remaining letters; the words are Acceptance, Belonging, and Community. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "The ABC's of Inclusion". The note on the side indicates, "Inspired by Mary Beth Doyle".
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- Title
- Always Behind Us
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a class of students in a group ahead in the distance walking together on a sidewalk. Far behind them is a student in a wheelchair being pushed by an adult. One of the students in the group asks a classmate, "Why is George always behind us whenever we go places?" The tag line...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a class of students in a group ahead in the distance walking together on a sidewalk. Far behind them is a student in a wheelchair being pushed by an adult. One of the students in the group asks a classmate, "Why is George always behind us whenever we go places?" The tag line under the cartoon reads, Second grade students ponder one of the great mysteries of Hillview School."
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- Title
- Amazing
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a box-shaped machine with gears and levers and a conveyor belt with people going through it. As the people enter they are slumped over wearing dark robes with a dark cloud over each of their heads. The sign above these people entering reads, "Nervous, Worried, Angry, Anxious,...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a box-shaped machine with gears and levers and a conveyor belt with people going through it. As the people enter they are slumped over wearing dark robes with a dark cloud over each of their heads. The sign above these people entering reads, "Nervous, Worried, Angry, Anxious, Unprepared, Negative, Apprehensive." As the people pass through the machine and emerge from the Output end they are depicted wearing white robes, with angel's wings, smiles on their faces, and sunshine over each of the heads. The sign above these people reads, "Positive, Good, Successful, Amazed, Pleased, Wonderful, Interesting." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "The Amazing Inclusive Education Teacher Transformation Machine."
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- Title
- Ants in His Pants
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a boy sitting in chair and desk; the image shows him from just above the waist down. He is squirming and there are crawling on the ground near his feet, up his legs, and near his belt. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After a hasty special education placement for behavior...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a boy sitting in chair and desk; the image shows him from just above the waist down. He is squirming and there are crawling on the ground near his feet, up his legs, and near his belt. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After a hasty special education placement for behavior problems, school official were embarrassed to learn that Marty really did have ants in his pants."
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- Title
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two classmates playing catch. One of the students says to the other, "Hey Patty, Do you want to play ball?" Patty responds by using her hands positioned on her head to nod "Yes." Two teachers are in the foreground one asks the other, "What's that odd behavior?" The other says, ...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two classmates playing catch. One of the students says to the other, "Hey Patty, Do you want to play ball?" Patty responds by using her hands positioned on her head to nod "Yes." Two teachers are in the foreground one asks the other, "What's that odd behavior?" The other says, "She's nodding YES. Those are the physical prompts I used." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Patty's teacher returned the book on applied behavior analysis before he had a chance to read the chapter on fading physical prompts."
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- Title
- April Fools
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a document titled, "Special Education Eligibility", and three categories of information that are filled in, name (Jamie K), D.O.B. (April 1, 1992), and classification (Fool). A person's hand is shown with a pencil using the eraser end to begin erasing the word, "Fool." The tag...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a document titled, "Special Education Eligibility", and three categories of information that are filled in, name (Jamie K), D.O.B. (April 1, 1992), and classification (Fool). A person's hand is shown with a pencil using the eraser end to begin erasing the word, "Fool." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Continually confused by ever-changing disability labels, Mr. Moody is annoyed when he realizes the 5 students born on April 1st have to be declassified."
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- Title
- Area 51
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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Two educators are looking at a map of New Mexico and pointing the Area 51. One person says "But everything's been ready for the new special ed school in Roswell. How can the plans have fallen through? The other person says, "The Air Force beat us to it, Sir. We aren't the only ones looking for...
Show moreTwo educators are looking at a map of New Mexico and pointing the Area 51. One person says "But everything's been ready for the new special ed school in Roswell. How can the plans have fallen through? The other person says, "The Air Force beat us to it, Sir. We aren't the only ones looking for such a remote site." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Little-known Special Education History".
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- Title
- Burning Questions
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a paraprofessional looking distraught while holding some papers that are on fire and creating smoke. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Unfortunately, the teacher assistant's burning questions kept spontaneously combusting before they could be answered."
- Title
- Cart Before the Horse
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a farmer scratching his head and looking confused as he looks at a draft horse hooked to a wagon the wrong way -- with the cart in front of the horse instead of behind it. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Harry persists in putting support services before educational goals...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a farmer scratching his head and looking confused as he looks at a draft horse hooked to a wagon the wrong way -- with the cart in front of the horse instead of behind it. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Harry persists in putting support services before educational goals and placement."
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- Title
- Cat and Mouse
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a school administrator wearing a cat mask sitting across the table from a mother of a child with a disability who is wearing Mickey Mouse ears. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After years of playing cat and mouse to develop an IEP, Casey's mother longs for a chance to be...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a school administrator wearing a cat mask sitting across the table from a mother of a child with a disability who is wearing Mickey Mouse ears. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "After years of playing cat and mouse to develop an IEP, Casey's mother longs for a chance to be the cat for once!"
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- Title
- Cave School
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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A caveman with a club in his hand is dragging a child by her hair in to a cave which is labeled Cave School for the Hunting and Gathering Impaired. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Recent archeological evidence suggests that special schools have been around longer than once thought."
- 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."
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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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Elevating Vagueness to an Art Form
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows two special educators having a conversation. The first says, "Don't you think this goal is a bit vague? Mark will improve communication skills?" The second person says, "No. That way it can mean whatever you want it to and we'll never have to change the IEP -- I've used that...
Show moreThis cartoon shows two special educators having a conversation. The first says, "Don't you think this goal is a bit vague? Mark will improve communication skills?" The second person says, "No. That way it can mean whatever you want it to and we'll never have to change the IEP -- I've used that goal for Mark for the last five years!" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Frank elevates vagueness to an art form."
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- Title
- English Literature
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a teacher in front of two high school students seated in wheelchairs with lap trays. The teacher says, "Welcome to 11th grade English Literature!" One student says to the other, "Pay up George!" His classmate says, "Alright, you win. But I can't believe we're through with...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher in front of two high school students seated in wheelchairs with lap trays. The teacher says, "Welcome to 11th grade English Literature!" One student says to the other, "Pay up George!" His classmate says, "Alright, you win. But I can't believe we're through with nursery rhymes!" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Special Education students turn to gambling to avoid the boredom of age-inappropriate activities."
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- Title
- Escape Attempts
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a teacher at the chalkboard in front of a full class at individual desks arranged in U. The teacher says, "Class... Today we will continue our unit on the rain forest." A student with a disability and his one-to-one paraprofessional, who is standing immediately behind him, are...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a teacher at the chalkboard in front of a full class at individual desks arranged in U. The teacher says, "Class... Today we will continue our unit on the rain forest." A student with a disability and his one-to-one paraprofessional, who is standing immediately behind him, are positioned just a couple steps from the door to the hallway. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Fred's instructional assistant makes sure she and Fred are positioned close to an exit to make any escape attempts less conspicuous."
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