Things everyone needs to know

1. There are an estimated 30,000 people with dwarfism in the United States and 651,700 in the world.
   
   
2. People with a form of dwarfism are usually no taller than 4' 10".
   
   
3. People of short stature can do just about anything an average sized person can – just sometimes in a different way.
   
   READ MORE: 17 places children with special needs will love to play
   
   
4. 80 percent of Little People are born to average sized parents.
   
   
5. Any average sized parents can have a child with a form of dwarfism.
   
   
6. Because dwarfism is primarily a bone growth disorder, most people of short stature deal with some type of health issues. These issues run from mild to severe and at times life threatening.
   
   
7. The word “midget” is considered offensive.
   
   READ MORE: HVP's Special Needs Resource Round-up
   
   
8. Such terms as Little Person, LP or person of short stature are all acceptable, but most people would rather be referred to by their name, than a label.
   
   
9. There are more than 300 types of dwarfism.
   

 

For more information, visit the Mid-Hudson River chapter of Little People of America at www.lpa-midhudson.org.