BEING LITTLE IN A BIG WORLD

2. BEING LITTLE IN A BIG WORLD

3. why some people are short statured • life from a Little Person’s point of view • challenges that Little People face • advocating for Little People

4. Any • average statured family • can have a short statured child.

5. 200 types of dwarfism • Causes Include: • Spontaneous genetic mutation • Inherited genes

6. Achondroplasia • The most common form of dwarfism • It happens in 1 in 20,000 births.

7. Achondroplasia • The most common form of dwarfism • It happens in 1 in 20,000 births.

8. Dwarfism is Not • « an intellectual disability » • « a disease that requires a "cure” » • « a reason to assume someone is incapable »

9. Our Families • short statured parents can have average and short statured children • average statured parents can have average and short statured kids

10. The Hill Family • one of the founders of the LPO • independent businessman • successful family man

11. The Hill Family • one of the founders of the LPO • independent businessman • successful family man

12. The Hill Family • one of the founders of the LPO • independent businessman • successful family man

13. The Hill Family • one of the founders of the LPO • independent businessman • successful family man

14. Growing Up Little • They taught me not to be ashamed of being short. There’s nothing wrong with it. Lots of other people have much bigger problems to cope with.

15. Growing Up Little • They taught me not to be ashamed of being short. There’s nothing wrong with it. Lots of other people have much bigger problems to cope with.

16. Growing Up Little • They taught me not to be ashamed of being short. There’s nothing wrong with it. Lots of other people have much bigger problems to cope with.

17. School “ It’s not all that important how tall you are. It’s what you’ve got upstairs.”

18. School • making it accessible • respecting the kids’ pride • working together

19. Academics “Just because we are little does NOT mean we are less intelligent.”

20. Teasing • We are NOT “midgets” • We are “Little People”

21. The Teen Years “I don’t try to look like an average sized model, because that’s unrealistic. But at the same time, all girls feel that pressure of having to look perfect.”

22. The Teen Years

23. The Teen Years

24. The Teen Years

25. Please don’t: • call us “cute” • pat us on the head • talk about us to others • assume we are children because we are little

26. I love driving. It gives me so much freedom. So much more independence.

27. Getting a Job “Some employers think just because we are little that we have less intelligence, or that we’re less capable.”

29. Some Everyday Challenges • Parking meters • Banking • Shopping • Public Washrooms

30. Some Everyday Challenges • Parking meters • Banking • Shopping • Public Washrooms

31. Some Everyday Challenges • Parking meters • Banking • Shopping • Public Washrooms

32. “As little People we automatically have this bond with one another, because of what we go through; how similar our lives are because of dwarfism.”

33. “As little People we automatically have this bond with one another, because of what we go through; how similar our lives are because of dwarfism.”

34. How You Can Help • Share what you have learned • Help prevent teasing • Give us a chance to prove ourselves when we apply for a job • Promote better access for Little People in the community

35. Contact Information Little People of Ontario P.O. Box 43058, 4841 Yonge St. North York, ON M2N 6N1 email: info@lpo.on.ca website: www.lpo.on.ca