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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(321 - 340 of 341)
Pages
- Title
- Unintended Distractions
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoons shows a full class being taught in a large group by the teacher, except for one student with a disability who is working in a one-to-one format with a paraprofessional in the back of the large group, facing away from the teacher. Some students in the teacher's large group who are...
Show moreThis cartoons shows a full class being taught in a large group by the teacher, except for one student with a disability who is working in a one-to-one format with a paraprofessional in the back of the large group, facing away from the teacher. Some students in the teacher's large group who are closest to the paraprofessional and student with a disability turn toward them. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Unintended Distractions."
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- Title
- Unusual Behaviors
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a male educator in the right corner of the panel and a Mrs. Baker in the middle front of the panel. The educator asks, "Don't you think David's unusual behaviors will be distracting to the class?" In the thought bubble above Mrs. Baker's head are images of her students, picking...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a male educator in the right corner of the panel and a Mrs. Baker in the middle front of the panel. The educator asks, "Don't you think David's unusual behaviors will be distracting to the class?" In the thought bubble above Mrs. Baker's head are images of her students, picking their nose, biting their fingernails, yelling, tapping their pencil, twirling their hair, hiding behind a mess, and eating a pen. The tag line reads, "Considering her students without disabilities, Mrs. Baker realizes David's unusual behaviors aren't that unusual."
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- Title
- Up on the Right Side of Bed
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon has four panels. In the first panel a school administrator (Mr. Moody) is sound asleep in his bed a home. In the second panel two colleagues sneak into his room and turn his bed, while he sleeps, around so it is facing the opposite direction. In the third panel Mr. Moody awakens,...
Show moreThis cartoon has four panels. In the first panel a school administrator (Mr. Moody) is sound asleep in his bed a home. In the second panel two colleagues sneak into his room and turn his bed, while he sleeps, around so it is facing the opposite direction. In the third panel Mr. Moody awakens, gets out of bed and stands while stretching both arms high above his head and says, "Aah!" In the fourth panel Mr. Moody arrives at his office at school and says to his assistant (seated at a desk using a computer), "Let's start including and supporting all our students!" The assistant looks confused. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "As a last resort, school staff found a way to help Mr. Moody get up on the right side of the bed."
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- Title
- Used Car Sales Seminar
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon shows a school administrator (Mr. Moody) seated behind a desk with a parent in a chair across from him. He says to her, "Mrs. Smith, I realize that on the surface it doesn't seem to make any sense to place your son -- who has behavior challenges -- in a class with 6 other aggressive,...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a school administrator (Mr. Moody) seated behind a desk with a parent in a chair across from him. He says to her, "Mrs. Smith, I realize that on the surface it doesn't seem to make any sense to place your son -- who has behavior challenges -- in a class with 6 other aggressive, anti-social boys. But trust me. I'm a professional. This is my business." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Mr. Moody tries out a new technique after getting lost at a national education conference and spending a week at a used car sales seminar."
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- Title
- Vegas Casinos
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a woman sitting in front of a slot machine with a drink sitting on top of the machine and a bunch of coins in her lap. The slot machine has two arms to pull one on each side of the machine. The tag line reads, "Vegas casinos buckle under political pressure to stop stereotyping...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a woman sitting in front of a slot machine with a drink sitting on top of the machine and a bunch of coins in her lap. The slot machine has two arms to pull one on each side of the machine. The tag line reads, "Vegas casinos buckle under political pressure to stop stereotyping disability characteristics as criminal by inventing the Two-Armed Bandit."
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- Title
- Voting Regularities
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically, both showing the same image of team members sitting around a table at a meeting. In the top panel the facilitator says, "All in favor, raise your hand." as the majority raised their hands in agreement. In the lower panel a person who wasn't part of...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically, both showing the same image of team members sitting around a table at a meeting. In the top panel the facilitator says, "All in favor, raise your hand." as the majority raised their hands in agreement. In the lower panel a person who wasn't part of the majority has the only raised hand while he says, "But what about my concerns?" The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Sometimes even VOTING REGULARITIES can be Problematic."
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- Title
- Waiver Clinic
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a man sitting on a bed in a doctors office. A nurse is standing next to him taking his pulse. She says to the man, "Great!" You have a pulse! You're just the kind of person we're looking for!" The tag line reads, "Emergency teacher certification waiver clinic."
- Title
- Wavelength
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a machine with knobs and a speaker that records and displays wavelengths. There are yellow waves crossing the monitor. On parallel (non-intersecting) waves displayed on the monitor are people trying to get to from their different wave lengths on to the same one. The tag line...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a machine with knobs and a speaker that records and displays wavelengths. There are yellow waves crossing the monitor. On parallel (non-intersecting) waves displayed on the monitor are people trying to get to from their different wave lengths on to the same one. The tag line reads, "Team effectiveness requires all the members to get on the same wavelength."
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- Title
- Wearing the pants
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows four people walking together in the same direction. The woman and man on the left of the panel are wearing very large pants that clearly don't fit them. To the right of this man are a taller man and woman in underwear acting a bit embarrassed to be without pants. The man in his...
Show moreThe cartoon shows four people walking together in the same direction. The woman and man on the left of the panel are wearing very large pants that clearly don't fit them. To the right of this man are a taller man and woman in underwear acting a bit embarrassed to be without pants. The man in his underwear says, "Excuse me, but I think those are our pants." The tag line reads. "Decisions about a child's life: Someone in the family should be wearing the pants."
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- Title
- Weeds or Wildflowers?
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a group of monks sitting in a circle in a field surrounds wildflowers in bloom. One of the monks says, "Master, speak to us of labeling." The Master replies, "Long ago, flowers had no names. Each was treasured for its unique beauty. Then someone decided to label some flowers as...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a group of monks sitting in a circle in a field surrounds wildflowers in bloom. One of the monks says, "Master, speak to us of labeling." The Master replies, "Long ago, flowers had no names. Each was treasured for its unique beauty. Then someone decided to label some flowers as weeds and convince others that they were undesirable. Still today when people look, some see a weed, while others see a wild flower." The tag line reads, "What do you choose to see? Weeds or wildflowers?"
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- Title
- What's Wrong with This Picture?
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon shows a woman looking at a picture on the wall with a question mark over her head. The picture on the wall shows a woman sitting at a table with three special needs students. She looks frazzled and the kids look out of control. The plaque on the picture frame reads, "A...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a woman looking at a picture on the wall with a question mark over her head. The picture on the wall shows a woman sitting at a table with three special needs students. She looks frazzled and the kids look out of control. The plaque on the picture frame reads, "A paraprofessional with limited training trying to teach students with the most complex challenges." The tag line reads, "What's wrong with this picture?"
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- Title
- Wheel of Misfortune
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
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This cartoon shows a game show host about to spin a wheel which is labeled, "Wheel of Misfortune: Severe Disabilities School Version), while his smiling assistant directs the audiences attention to the wheel. The pie-shaped sections on the wheel include 6 categories 3 of which take up a total of...
Show moreThis cartoon shows a game show host about to spin a wheel which is labeled, "Wheel of Misfortune: Severe Disabilities School Version), while his smiling assistant directs the audiences attention to the wheel. The pie-shaped sections on the wheel include 6 categories 3 of which take up a total of 75% of the wheel, 25% each (Special Education Class in District, Special Education Class Out of District, Special Education School). Two categories each take up 10% of the wheel (Home-Based Instruction & Special Education Class in Neighborhood School). The final category, Regular Class with Support, takes up only 5% of the wheel.
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- Title
- When I Grow Up…
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
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The cartoon is four panels arranged in two-by-two square. Each panel has a person on a television screen. In the top left panel is a boy saying, "When I grow up, I want to be a Special Educator so I can complete mountains of paperwork for my huge caseload of students." In the panel on the top...
Show moreThe cartoon is four panels arranged in two-by-two square. Each panel has a person on a television screen. In the top left panel is a boy saying, "When I grow up, I want to be a Special Educator so I can complete mountains of paperwork for my huge caseload of students." In the panel on the top right is a girl saying, "When I grow up, I want to be a School Principal so that people from different stakeholder groups can take turns getting mad at me." In the panel on the lower left side is a girl saying, "When I grow up, I want to be a Paraprofessional. So that I get paid minimum wages to do teacher work." In the lower right panel is a boy saying, "When I grow up, I want to be a School Psychologist so I can give lots of tests to kids." The tag line reads, "Who will want to do these jobs when they grow up?"
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- Title
- Which Path?
- Date Created
- 2021
- Description
-
This cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The upper and lower panels are overlapped on the far left by the image of an infant in a cradle. The upper panel , labeled BIGGER LIFE, shows a bright, vibrantly colored scene of a path go up a hillside. Along this upward path are images of...
Show moreThis cartoon has two panels stacked vertically. The upper and lower panels are overlapped on the far left by the image of an infant in a cradle. The upper panel , labeled BIGGER LIFE, shows a bright, vibrantly colored scene of a path go up a hillside. Along this upward path are images of buildings that are labeled inclusive schooling, real (supported) work, and home in community. At the top of the hill it shows two people together labeled relationships and choices. The lower panel, labeled SMALLER LIFE, shows a dark and muted scene with few signs of life on a jagged descending pathways going down a hillside. Along the downward path are images of buildings that are labeled segregated schooling, sheltered employment or no work, and groiup home. At the bottom of the hill it showas a peron falling into an abyss labeled increasing isolation and limited choices. The tag line underneath the cartoon reads: Which Path Should We Pursue? To the left side of the cartoon there is an acknowledgement line that reads" Inspired by the Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education www.allmeansall.org.au.
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- Title
- Whine Cellar
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows Mr. Moody and a woman going down the stairs into the cellar. There are wood barrels in the foreground of the frame and one of the barrels has a mouse and cheese on it. Mr. Moody says "Let's talk down here." The tag line reads "Mr. Moody escorts a disgruntled employee to the...
Show moreThe cartoon shows Mr. Moody and a woman going down the stairs into the cellar. There are wood barrels in the foreground of the frame and one of the barrels has a mouse and cheese on it. Mr. Moody says "Let's talk down here." The tag line reads "Mr. Moody escorts a disgruntled employee to the school's newly established Whine Cellar."
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- Title
- Who can help?
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows six educational team members seated at round table for meeting. The facilitator says, "OK, Amy's next goal has do with Making Requests. Who can help with that? All the members raise their hands. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Harvey continues to ask the wrong question...
Show moreThis cartoon shows six educational team members seated at round table for meeting. The facilitator says, "OK, Amy's next goal has do with Making Requests. Who can help with that? All the members raise their hands. The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Harvey continues to ask the wrong question in a room full of helpers."
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- Title
- Whole Language
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
-
The cartoon shows Mr. Moody sitting at a desk with papers and a phone on it. He is on the phone and says, "You're darn right I'm in favor of a whole language! Those partial language approaches are completely inadequate." The tag line reads "Mr. Moody left the district in-service on teaching...
Show moreThe cartoon shows Mr. Moody sitting at a desk with papers and a phone on it. He is on the phone and says, "You're darn right I'm in favor of a whole language! Those partial language approaches are completely inadequate." The tag line reads "Mr. Moody left the district in-service on teaching reading before they discussed the importance of combining literature and phonics."
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- Title
- Word Problems
- Date Created
- 2000
- Description
-
The cartoon shows a document labeled, "Mediation Exam." It reads, "27. During a one-hour meeting, if a parent speaks about her child's educational needs at 120 words per minute and a professional listens to 83 of those words per minute while simultaneously scanning 6 pages of the students file,...
Show moreThe cartoon shows a document labeled, "Mediation Exam." It reads, "27. During a one-hour meeting, if a parent speaks about her child's educational needs at 120 words per minute and a professional listens to 83 of those words per minute while simultaneously scanning 6 pages of the students file, how many years will if take for them to understand each other?" There is a hand with a pencil coming from the right side of the panel getting ready to write in the answer. The tag line reads, "Word Problems."
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- Title
- Workable Team Size
- Date Created
- 1999
- Description
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The cartoon shows lots of people stuffed into a phone booth and a line of people waiting. Mr. Moody is holding up his hand and saying "OK that's enough." The tag line reads "In an effort to maintain a workable team size, Mr. Moody suggests limiting membership to the number of people that can fit...
Show moreThe cartoon shows lots of people stuffed into a phone booth and a line of people waiting. Mr. Moody is holding up his hand and saying "OK that's enough." The tag line reads "In an effort to maintain a workable team size, Mr. Moody suggests limiting membership to the number of people that can fit into a phone booth."
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- Title
- You Actually Have to Teach
- Date Created
- 1998
- Description
-
This cartoon shows a special educator and general education teacher talking with each other. The special educator hands the teacher a paper and says, "… and that's what needs to be done." As the teacher accepts the paper his eyes are wide and he looks surprised as he says, "Ohhhh! I get it now....
Show moreThis cartoon shows a special educator and general education teacher talking with each other. The special educator hands the teacher a paper and says, "… and that's what needs to be done." As the teacher accepts the paper his eyes are wide and he looks surprised as he says, "Ohhhh! I get it now. You mean I actually have to teach this student." The tag line under the cartoon reads, "Murray has spent too many years with students who learn regardless of what the teacher does."
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