Looking for support? Look no further!

Many foundations have been created with people diagnosed with Achondroplasia in mind. Here is a list of links to many popular organizations and their main purpose:

Billy Barty Foundation
College scholarships for dwarfs  
http://college-scholarships.findthebest.com/l/2024/Billy-Barty-Foundation-Scholarship

Dwarf Athletic Association of America

Sports for dwarfs

http://www.daaa.org/DAAA_home.html

Little People of America

Support and counseling

http://www.lpaonline.org/

Little People Research Fund

Research orthopedic management of dwarfism and help treat dwarfs

https://www.giveback.org/cause/6174/LITTLE-PEOPLES-RESEARCH-FUND-INC.aspx

Major Aspects of Growth in Children

Support for growth related disorders

http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/1208/how-magic-began

Also following is a link of more specific groups and international groups controlled by the Little People of America foundation:

http://www.lpaonline.org/dwarfism-support-organizations

UAE in Dubai

The following is a link to a news article about a new support group for people with Achondroplasia that started in Dubai, India.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/health/uae-dwarfism-support-group-fighting-prejudice-1.1294798

Little People of Uganda

The following link will redirect you to a a brief pamphlet about the Little People of Uganda (LPU) - an organism for dwarfs in Uganda.

http://www.littlepeople.ngo.ug/wp-content/uploads/Facts_and_Myths_about_dwarfism.pdf

The picture below is from an LPU meeting.

Interview!

I conducted an interview with Vicky Schulte, a leader of the Little People of America. This is an organization whose main goal is to support families effected by Achondroplasia and the people inflicted with the disease. The following questions were asked in the interview:

Q: How do you help citizens that are diagnosed with achondroplasia?

A: When a child is diagnosed with dwarfism (any type) we usually provide them with materials our organization produces.  We have a quarterly magazine (which comes with membership) and we send them a booklet called “Whole New View” which is written for parents of children with dwarfism.  We also have a medical advisory board to whom we refer our members.

Q: Do you hold fundraisers?

A: We hold an internal fundraiser among our membership called 50 for 50.  Many local chapter hold fundraisers, silent auctions, poker nights, etc. to raise funds for their own chapter.

Q: How do you spread the word about your organization?

A: We have a website, Facebook page and advocacy materials.

Q: How can Americans help people with achondroplasia succeed in life?

A: To help those with dwarfism, the average height community can remember to treat LP’s as regular people.  Age doesn’t reflect height.  People with dwarfism can do anything that AH (average height) people can do, they just might need a stool to do it!

Q: How many people belong to your organization? How many are actually diagnosed with achondroplasia?

A: We have over 7000 members in LPA from around the world.  85% of those in LPA have achondroplasia.  It is the most common form of dwarfism.

http://www.lpaonline.org/about-lpa_ <-- The link to the Little People of America website

One Normal & One Affected; Both Fighters

  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2551538/Sierra-looks-Teen-born-rare-primordial-dwarfism-taller-identical-twin-helps-navigate-dating-scene.html

This article discusses a set of fifteen year old twins born in Texas with a very rare situation. One twin, Sienna, was diagnosed with Achondroplasia when she was little. However, her twin sister, Sierra, was not affected with the disease. Read the article to find out more about how Sienna deals with her everyday struggles.

Comparing Sizes

This picture shows a set of twin boys and the comparison between one with diagnosed with Achondroplasia and one without.

http://peterswordoftheday.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/achondroplasia/

Human Mutations- Dwarfism

The following is a YouTube video sharing what it is like to attend the Little People Convention. I had no part in making the film and all credit  goes to Discovery Channel.