"But You Don't Look Little", Calling out narrow views of dwarfism
I am a little person. I have been a little person since birth, and will be a little person for the remainder of my life. Over the past couple of years, it's become increasingly more common for people (mostly outside of the dwarfism community but also sometimes within it) to say things to me like "but you're not that little" or "I don't see you as a little person." After increasing frustration with these comments, it's time for me to unpack them and spread a little dwarfism awareness. You see, I DON'T have achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. I therefore don't LOOK like I have achondroplasia, since I don't (surprise surprise!). There are now over 400 recognized forms of skeletal dysplasias, each with unique features and differing body proportions. Really the only feature that is shared among all of these conditions is short stature. The Little People of America defines dwarfism as a medical condition causing short s