October is Dwarfism Month

Basic Facts

People with a form of Dwarfism are usually no taller than 4 foot 10 inches (147.32cm).
The word “midget” is considered highly offensive.
Dwarfism occurs in all races and ethnicities.
Yes, you or your children may one day have a child with a form of Dwarfism.
50% of Little People are born to average sized parents.
Dwarfism is not a disease that requires a “cure”. Most people with the condition live a long prosperous life.
Dwarfism is not an intellectual disability. A person who has Dwarfism is typically of average intelligence.
Most types of Dwarfism have medical complications, some more severe than others.
While many members of the short-statured community don’t feel that they have a disability, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect the rights of people with dwarfism. In South Africa, there are several Acts that protect the rights of People with Disabilities.
Dwarfism can be caused by one of more than 300 different types of Dwarfism with an estimated 30,000 people in the U.S. and 651,700 in the world.
Such terms as Little People, LP, Person of short stature or Person with a form of Dwarfism are all acceptable. Most people with Dwarfism see the word “Dwarf” as acceptable. Most people would rather be referred to by their name than by a label.
In the Dwarfism community the word “average” is used instead of the word normal. Example, “Average sized parents” rather than “normal sized parents”.

Disability Unit