October is recognized internationally as Dwarfism Awareness Month. This year, the Little People of Ontario organization is reminding people of seven ways they can learn, support and be an ally when it comes to dwarfism.
1. Educate Yourself
Take some time to connect with organizations and resources to learn more about the community and people’s lived experiences. Some ways to do this are:
- Engage with the dwarfism community on social media
- Learn about organization’s missions, values and ongoing initiatives and see where you can play your part
- Participate in self-guided learning, leaning into resources (movies, series, novels, etc.) that showcase the community
2. Learn The “Lingo”
Across the dwarfism community, many terms have been deemed acceptable/unacceptable.
Know what’s appropriate:
- “Person with dwarfism” or “little person” (LP) are most commonly used, but each individual has their preference so it never hurts to ask
Know what’s inappropriate:
- The “M” word is an ABSOLUTE no
- “Dwarf” can be offensive to some as it projects their condition (dwarfism) as their entire persona, whereas it’s only a part
3. Don’t Stop And Stare, Say Hi!
Here’s some useful DOs and DON’Ts when engaging with LPs:
- DO say “hi” and speak and treat LPs like you would anyone else
- DO always ask before assuming as there’s over 400 types of dwarfism and no two experiences are or will be the same
- DON’T stare, point, or make jokes/comments about a person’s height
- DON’T take photos or videos without permission
4. Don’t Ignore Inaccessibility
Accessibility in public spaces has become a growing conversation. Here’s your challenge:
- When you’re at a store, restaurant, your workplace, school, public transit or any public space, ask yourself: “Can a LP of different heights navigate this space comfortably?”
- If the answer is no, think of ways the space can be adapted, and if/when appropriate speak up and take action! Even something simple like reporting broken accessibility push buttons helps.
5. Don’t Standby, Speak Up
You don’t have to be a LP or know a LP to challenge rude comments about the community. Speak up and be an active ally!
If someone makes an inappropriate joke or uses a derogatory term, simply say “that’s not really appropriate” or “someone’s disability is not the ‘butt’ of a joke.”
Sometimes simply saying something does so much more than saying nothing.
6. Learn From Them, Not Just About Them
Representation is a big pillar in the dwarfism community as it is in its realest and most authentic form when it comes from LPs. So this October:
- Engage with film, television, books, and other media created by little people
- Amplify the voices of LPs by sharing their work with your circle and community
- Connect with content creators from the LP community
7. Spread The Word
Now that you’ve learned a bit more about little people and the dwarfism community, share your knowledge with the rest of the world!
- Talk to your school, workplace, and community about dwarfism and actively engage them to promote more inclusivity for the community
- Share your learning with your network and showcase your support both in-person and online
October 25th is Dwarfism Awareness Day, and everyone is encouraged to wear green in support of the dwarfism community.
To learn more, you can visit the Little People of Ontario website.
