Did you know since 2009, LPA has been recognizing October as Dwarfism Awareness Month? The intention is to raise positive awareness around dwarfism, addressing common misconceptions and increasing opportunities for people with dwarfism around the country.
Little People of America (LPA) is a national support organization for people with dwarfism and their families. LPA provides peer, parent, and medical support for the dwarfism community. Started in 1957 by Billy Barty and 20 friends, the first LPA meeting was truly monumental for a group of people who were severely mislabeled and misunderstood by society.
A beautiful Public Service Announcement was made in 2012 by the LPA for Dwarfism Awareness Month. The video celebrates the diversity of people with dwarfism in the United States and the contributions they make to our communities.
More about dwarfism and LPA:
♦ There are over 200 distinct forms of dwarfism and skeletal dysplasia.
♦ The typical height range of people with dwarfism is 2’8″ to 4’5″, and is generally not greater than 4’10” at adult height.
♦ Eighty percent of people with dwarfism have average height parents.
♦ There are an estimated 30,000 people in the United States and 651,000 internationally with a type of dwarfism.
♦ In July 2009, the word “midget” was declared inappropriate and offensive. Preferable terms: average height, having dwarfism, short stature, little person, LP, and the medical terminology use of dwarf. The most preferred way? The person’s name!
♦ LPA has registered a complaint with the FCC over the use of the “m” word. The goal is to raise awareness around the offensive impact of the word in order to eliminate use of it in media, popular culture, and in everyday language.
♦ LPA has 6,500 members across the United States and includes 70 chapters active in all 50 states.
♦ Skeletal dysplasias affect bone growth, but generally do not affect cognitive abilities.
Awareness:
Last month I went live for 22 days doing pushups to raise awareness of Vets who commit suicide every day. I found, on average, 5 people a day told me they did not know that statistic until they saw our videos. Because of that, I decided Addie and I would be going live every day with a new fact, but more than the typical stats- we are going to get a bit deeper. Talk more about advocacy. Things many people have not thought about. And, hopefully, raise more awareness about dwarfism.
I hope you will join us on Facebook for the month of October to learn more about dwarfism!
I never knew there were so many different types of dwarfism. I will have to try to follow along on your Facebook page to learn more.
Thanks for looking to learn more!
I tell you, you are so awesome for always being such an awesome advocate for dwarfism. I will admit that I do not know too much about it, but I always know I can turn to you for answers. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for checking in to know more!
I had no idea there is more than one kind of dwarfism. What are the girls in my grade school was a dwarf. We were good friends for quite a while. I wonder sometimes what happened to her.
Many different forms- I love educating so people know that there is more than one type- which helps individualize people they may meet or see, versus feeling like all people with dwarfism are the same.
Thank you for the informative article. I was not aware of these stats; this is good to know.
🙂
Thank you for being such a passionate advocate for the LP community. Without you, and all your passion I thik we still might be going backwards regarding the “m” word.
I love our community and am so proud to be a part of such a strong group!
I’ve learned so much from you about Dwarfism. You may not realize it, but your love and compassion for your daughter is such an inspiration to many of us. What a great mom you are on all levels.
I’m all teary. Thank you so much.
I did not know there were so many different types of dwarfism. I will have to try to follow along to find out more!
Please do!
Thank you for being a voice and such a wonderful shining advocate for the LP Community. I am really excited to follow along on your journey and get to see your girl tell us all about what makes her so awesome! And thank you for so honestly sharing your family’s experience.
Thank you for coming to learn more!
This is so informative. I had no idea any of this to be honest. I’m glad that you are sharing, and giving us a little bit more education about something so important that we all should know!
I am honored to know so many who want to learn more about our babe.
I had no idea that there was an awareness month for dwarfism. I went to high school with a girl who was a dwarf and she was awesome. We were in marching band together and she totally rocked it.
Yes! People with dwarfism are just small- totally average abilities! 🙂
I had no idea there was 200 different kinds of dwarfism. It is so important to raise awareness.
So important!
I think it great that there is a dwarfism awareness month. I learned a few facts from this great post.
I’m really glad to hear that.
Thanks for the great post. I would love to learn more about dwarfism.
Awesome! I have a lot of info. Please do see more here–> https://aisforadelaide.com/category/achondroplasia-2/
Thank you for being an advocate! I did not know any of those facts about dwarfism. I appreciate those who raise awareness, so I can be better educated.
Thank you for stopping stopping by to learn more!
Thanks for spreading awareness and educating everyone! I love that you always are such a champion for your daughter 🙂
She is my world!
Awareness is always important. So many good causes come out of people knowing.
True!
I had no idea that October was Dwarfism month. I love that we are being educated so we are more aware. It’s so important to learn about others. Two of my children have neurological diseases. Neuro Fibromatosis and Myasthenia Gravis. I wanted people who work with them at school to know and understand.
It is so important that people know! The more we share, the more love and acceptance is out there.
You definitely shared some facts with me I had no idea about when it comes to dwarfism. I never realized 80% of people with dwarfism had parents of average height.
Right?! That’s always a shocking stat.
I was aware of the 22 vets. I was not aware of the dwarfism statistics until I read them here. I think you are doing a great thing. And I hope so many more people get educated about this. K
Thank you!
Thanks for this information! I never knew the statistics. What a great thing to spread awareness.
I do hope so!
I love that, the persons name!!! So true
Exactly!
wow thanks so much for the share. i never knew some many types of dwafism existed. this was very imformative
I am so glad!
This is awesome. I love how you say they want to be known by “the person’s name”. Of course they do! It’s great that you are raising awareness for all of these causes and I look forward to learning more.
YES! We just went live about this! https://www.facebook.com/AIsForAdelaide/videos/1108506249218079/?comment_id=1108514165883954&ref=notif¬if_t=video_comment¬if_id=1475791766223409
I’ve really enjoyed some of the stories that you have shared. It’s interesting and heartbreaking at the same time some of the things you two have dealt with. You are doing a great job advocating!
Thank you, so much!