Today is International Dwarfism Awareness Day

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Every year on October 25, International Dwarfism Awareness Day celebrates little people. The day also spreads awareness for achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes dwarfism.

Achondroplasia means “without cartilage formation.” It occurs in one in every 15,000 to one in 40,000 live births. Those who have this condition are called dwarfs, which is why this condition is also called dwarfism. Other preferred ways to refer to those with achondroplasia include little people or people of short stature. One word little people do not like to be called is a midget. In 2015, Little People of America (LPA) issued a statement calling for the word to be abolished. They feel it is a derogatory slur to refer to people of short stature.

Dwarfism is characterized by having short arms and legs in comparison to the head and trunk. A larger head, weak muscle tone, sleep apnea, and spinal stenosis are also sometimes present. The average height of men with dwarfism is 4 feet, 4 inches. The average height of women with dwarfism is 4 feet, 1 inch. Most people with dwarfism have a final height of 4 feet 10 inches or less.