Celebrating Dwarfism Awareness Month!

 

 

LITTLE PEOPLE OF AMERICA ANNOUCES DWARFISM AWARENESS MONTH
WITH PSA IN TIMES SQUARE ON CBS SUPER SCREEN
Dwarfism Support Organizations and Assemblywoman Calhoun come
together for powerful message

What is LPA?  This powerpoint explains the history of LPA and why we exist.  It’s great background for anyone who is writing an article on LPA or looking for a quick summary of who we are and what we do.

In an effort to be proactive in encouraging public awareness of positive stories of the dwarfism community and in keeping with our mission LPA has declared October National Dwarfism Awareness Month. © 2009 LPA.  The following states have already passed resolutions calling for October to be Dwarfism Awareness Month: Delaware, Puerto Rico, Missouri, Indiana, Oklahoma, Illinois, Massachusetts, Kansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, and California, and Arizona.
 
Mission of LPA
“LPA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with dwarfism throughout their lives while celebrating with great pride Little People’s contribution to social diversity.  LPA strives to bring solutions and global awareness to the prominent issues affecting individuals of short stature and their families.”
 
Hundreds of health-related observances have been declared and are celebrated each year, like Autism Awareness Month (April), Breast Cancer Awareness (October), and the Red Ribbon Campaign (October) along with many lesser known medical conditions.

It is time for LPA to celebrate our community as well!

How you can helpWe are asking each chapter to do these tasks, and your chapter will need your help to make them successful:

1)Hold an event of some kind.  Celebration of Dwarfism Awareness Month can be tied in to an already planned event or Regional.     Some examples are: a bake sale, a pizza night at a local restaurant, a mini-golf championship, a 2K or 5K walk or a simple park get-together..

2) Attempt to have an article or television piece published.  The article could be about the fundraiser that the chapter is holding; a piece on the oldest member; a piece about the dwarfism movement and the FCC complaint; or about the local high school student who plays on the football team or is the local Xbox champion.

3) Contact local state legislature and get October declared National Dwarfism Awareness Month in their state.   The ultimate goal is to have the US Government declare October NDAM but first it needs to be declared at the state level.

Please contact your local District Director or Chapter President if you have any questions.

Where We Began

In 1957, well-known actor Billy Barty made a national public appeal for all little people in America to join him for a gathering in Reno, Nevada. Mr. Barty and 20 other little people joined together and Little People of America was formed!

Click here to read a wonderful article on LPA’s first 50 years – 1957-2007.

What We Do

LPA offers information on employment, education, disability rights, adoption, medical issues,clothing, adaptive products, and the many stages of parenting a short-statured child – from birth to adult.

Information is provided through a national newsletter, the LPA Today, and numerous seminars and workshops which occur locally at chapter events, regionally at District Meetings, and nationally at our yearly national conference.

LPA also provides opportunities for social interaction as well as participation in athletic events through our sister organization, the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA).

Little People of America is a primarily all-volunteer organization for persons and families involved with the condition of dwarfism. We do not diagnose, treat, or provide genetic counseling. We are involved in peer and parent support, medical resources and referrals, scholarships, and programs that benefit the dwarfism community, while trying to promote education, community outreach, personal and family strength, and life achievements.

Take the LPA Survey and tell us what you think.

 Dwarfism Awareness Month Sample Resolution

FIND A CHAPTER NEAR YOUR HOMETOWN HERE