Groups and Organization

There are few groups and organizations involved to fully support and improve the lives of people with the dwarfism disability. The Billy Barty Foundation was founded by Billy Barty, who also founded Little People of America. Both these foundations are on a mission to guarantee an acceptable and improved quality of life for Little People through education, employment, accessibility and athletic programs. The primary objectives are to eliminate attitudinal barriers, myths and false negative stereotypes of Little People by providing society examples of achievement and inspiration, and to disseminate information to the general public at large as well as to Little People and their families. The Foundation strives to assist people of short stature to live more independently and productively, and is committed to develop unique and necessary accommodations and services. The Dwarf Athletic Association of America was formed in 1985 to develop, promote and provide quality amateur level athletic opportunities for dwarf athletes in the United States. Their mission is "To encourage people with dwarfism to participate in sports regardless of their level of skills". Another group is the Little People's Research Fund (LPRF) is a health organization that supports research for the special medical needs of people affected with skeletal dysplasia. The organization funds research on the orthopedic disabilities associated with dwarfism. LPRF operates the Pierre House, which is located on the campus of Saint Joseph Medical Center. This serves as a home away from home for patients' families. Finally, the MAGIC (Major Aspects of Growth In Children) Foundation is a national non-profit organization providing support and education regarding growth disorders in children and related adult disorders, including Adult Growth Hormone Disorder. It was founded in 1989 by five families of children with growth disorders. MAGIC claims to be the leading organization of growth disorders in the United States, with over 6,000 members in the MAGIC network. MAGIC covers over 100 different types of growth disorders, ten specific divisions, and educational/supportive services worldwide.

... About Dwarfism

I saw this one article on dwarfism and it is by Terrilynn Fox Quillen. Her article was quite interesting and I feel that I can use it as a reliable source. It is from Wayne State's very own database ProQuest. The article presents some interesting information and it was pretty much broken down in two separating the myths from the facts.

MYTH:
Dwarfism is a developmental disorder characterized by mental retardation and shortened life expectancy

FACT:
More than 300 disorders may produce dwarfism, defined as a genetic or medical condition resulting in adult height of 4 feet 10 inches or shorter (typical range: 2 feet 8 inches to 4 feet 8 inches). Although some forms of dwarfism are associated with medical complications, most people have normal intellect and life expectancy, and age normally. However, depending on the type of dwarfism involved, they may require various treatments to address complications and maximize mobility. Dwarfism affects about 30,000 Americans and over 650,000 people worldwide.

MYTH:
Primordial dwarfism is associated with disproportionately short arms and legs.

FACT:
Primordial dwarfism is a diagnostic category that includes many specific syndromes that produce dwarfism—a very small but otherwise normally proportioned physical frame. Achondroplasia accounts for 70% of all cases of dwarfism that result in disproportionately short arms and legs; it's the most common condition associated with genetic skeletal dysplasia.

MYTH:
Dwarfism is quickly identified shortly after birth in neonates with low birth weight.

FACT:
Although dwarfism can sometimes be identified at or even before birth, many patients aren't diagnosed until later in childhood. Many babies with dwarfism have a normal birth weight and begin life with a normal appearance, but don't experience the same rate of growth as other children. Torso abnormalities associated with skeletal dysplasias, if present, may be too slight to be recognized at birth.

MYTH:
Disorders that produce dwarfism are irreversible congenital anomalies.

FACT:
Not all kinds of dwarfism are present at birth, nor are all kinds irreversible. For example, dwarfism caused by endocrine disorders (such as pituitary dwarfism may be reversed during childhood by hormone replacement therapy with injections of human growth hormone (HGH). Adolescent nutritional dwarfism, a precursor to pituitary dwarfism, is caused by iron and zinc deficiency and may be treated with dietary supplements.

She also mentioned hyperphagic short stature in her article, which is formerly known as psychosocial dwarfism, is a chronic traumatic stress–induced syndrome that manifests in abused children, and is characterized by stunted growth and excessive hunger. Although the condition is precipitated by pituitary suppression, generally it doesn't respond to HGH replacement. Instead, placing the child in a nonthreatening and loving environment naturally reverses hypopituitarism, resulting in rapid gains in growth.

Being Politically Correct

An article by Robert Kruse entitled "Narrating intersections of gender and dwarfism in everyday spaces" talks about the intersection between gender and dwarfism through the narratives of four women who are little people. This journal covers various aspects of the four women such as the kind of attention they receive in public spaces, employment opportunities and social and physical mobility are discussed in terms of how dwarfism affects their experiences and identities as women. This journal also focus on the terms uses for those who have the dwarfism as a disability. According to Kruse "A variety of terms are used in reference to human and mythological dwarfs. Most common are 'dwarf and 'midget'. While 'dwarf is generally accepted in medical terminology, it is not the preferred term of the participants in this research. The women in these interviews agree that 'dwarf' emphasises and essentialises their short stature." We have to understand that they are individuals and they would like to be treated the way we want to be treated. This issue goes back to the article when one participant told states that using 'midget' to refer to little people is similar to using the word 'nigger' in reference to people of African descent. She observes: 'Black folks don't like the "n" word . . . (dwarf) would be similar to that, to a degree . . . it's . . . used in a bad way'. The women agreed that 'little people' is rather a matter-of-fact term that neither limits nor stigmatises them. They feel that 'little' is an accurate description of their bodies and 'people' emphasises the characteristics they have in common with other adults of all heights.

My View

The world will continue to struggle correcting this issue of dwarfism misrepresentation. Entertainment business will continue to bloom from their mass production of misguided movies. Viewers will be laughing and would probably not realize what little people are going through in their big world. In addition there are third party such as parents who would rather mock little people rather than explaining the situation they are in. Misrepresentation of little people is hurting not only the little people but also the society. The society creates this perception of their disability such that they are discriminated base on their physical appearance. The society miss the idea that they are human too and their disability is not related to any mental problem. Little people can still think critically and therefore perform their necessary tasks just like normal people. Their intelligence can complementarily compare to that of a normal person. Most of this misrepresentation goes back to the media and the entertainment industry portrayal of little people. The same caused for their tainted profile can as well help decrease the spread of misguided representation. The media and the entertainment should continue to reach out viewers by illustrating scenes that makes viewers not necessarily pity them, rather give them the respect they deserve and eliminate further damage to their dignity.

Medical

These constant reminders that they are different and have a disability of being little, in many cases cause them to be insecure. Medical approaches to dwarfism have traditionally assumed that dwarfism was untreatable. However, advances in medical technology have made possible treatments to increase the height of little people ("Narrating intersections of gender and dwarfism in everyday spaces. "). For example, there are surgical procedures that can 'treat' the condition of 'dwarf' stature with the repeated breaking, extension and healing of leg bones. Though this may all sound interesting and appealing to those who have high hopes, according co-author Michael C. Ain, MD, associate professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland “Not only is limb lengthening a huge time commitment for the families involved, but children with achondroplasia are taken out of the environment where they play, interact and have fun to be placed in treatment for several years,” (“Dealing with Dwarfism”).

The Roloffs Lose a Dear Friend

This was a title of an episode in "Little People, Big World". This about Mike Detjen, a family friend involved with the Roloff family as he's ever been: building a new trebuchet, coaching the twins' soccer team, and helping to prepare for a large housewarming party. But when a heart condition suddenly takes Mike's life, the family must face coping with the loss of their friend and partner. This episode showed how much they are just like every normal people. They cry, they feel sad and pain just like we do. Detjen was close to the family due to his involvement and his death caused the whole family to feel as though a bond was broken. Sometimes it slips out of our minds to realize that they are people too. We are quick to prejudge them, possibly due to their portrayal in the media. And I think that creating such a reality show where it illustrates the life of people with dwarfism opens up a whole new meaning to their disability. Though they may be portrayed as these comical, funny character in movies such as "Bad Santa", "Austin Powers", or "Little Man" the media is slowly creating a better image of them with the "Little People, Big World" reality show. The media I believe is slowly fixing this problem by showing scenes that incorporates emotion, struggle, power, and many more.

The Driving Test

Well today I watch an episode of the "Little People, Big World" to get me a sense of idea of what else to add to my paper. The episode that I've watch was when the two brothers were going to take a driving test. Zach and Jeremy were at driving school hoping to pass the exam with 80 points or better. Zach was quite arrogant and felt proud to be smarter than Jeremy, because though Jeremy was a normal height son he was not really smarter than Zach in school. However, Jeremy actually took the time to read the book, while Zach felt confident that he was smart enough that he did not feel the need to read the book. He was mistaken he did not realize that part of the exam were questions that were ambiguous and just vague. Zach did not pass the driving test that day, he had a 64, which was below 80 causing him to fail the exam. Jeremy pass the exam with an 80. This episode shows how someone with a disability may feel superior over someone without the the disability. I understand the fact that little people may feel less appreciated in comparison to someone without the disability specially if it was a comparison to a relative such ones sibling(s). It did not end so well on Zach that day and he had to realize that there are more to just being normal or special. He did not take in to full consideration the other necessary things needed to be fully superior or at least be the best at a specific idea or activity.