|
Medical, Genetic and Scientific information
Note: Several of these articles link to material available on the
Little People of Ontario's online library. Highly recommended!
LPA Medical Resource Center
Comprehensive information on the medical aspects of dwarfism, for the lay person and professional alike.
KidsHealth's Guide to Dwarfism
A comprehensive lay person's overview of different types of dwarfism, published in January 2002 by KidsHealth.org. Reviewed by Dr. Charles Scott, former chairman of the LPA Medical Advisory Board, and Linda Nicholson, a master's-level genetic counselor who works with Dr. Scott.
It's a Whole New View
"A Beginner's Guide for New Parents of a Child with Dwarfism." Edited and compiled by Joanna Campbell and Nina Dorren. Originally published in 1998, "It's a Whole New View" has been revised and made available once again through Little People of America. Clicking on the title, above, will get you the PDF version.
Health Supervision for Children with Achondroplasia
The classic article from the medical journal Pediatrics, first published in 1995 and revised in September 2005. Available in full-text HTML, or as a PDF file that you can download and print out.
Respiratory Difficulty in Young Children with Achondroplasia
The complete name of this article is "Distinct patterns of respiratory difficulty in young children with achondroplasia: a clinical, sleep, and lung function study." It was published in Archives of Disease in Childhood in August 1, 1998.
Achondroplasia
By the Human Growth Foundation.
Little People
A Father Reflects on His Daughter's Dwarfism -- and What It Means to Be Different
Author: Dan Kennedy
Download a free copy at: http://www.littlepeoplethebook.com
Little People of America Comes to Terms with Genetic Testing
By Ruth E. Ricker, Little People of America, Inc.
The Individual with Dwarfism as Parent: A Position Statement
By Little People of America, Inc.
Shriners Hospital Researchers Discover Dwarfism Gene
The discovery of the gene that causes pseudoachondroplasia. Published by the Shriners in August 1996.
Breathing Problems Among Little People: When To Be Concerned
By Dr. Cheryl Reid, LPA Today, 12/91 - 02/92.
Different Kinds of Chondrodystrophies
By Dr. Judith Hall.
Handling the Newborn Infant with Achondroplasia
By Dr. Cheryl Reid, LPA Today, 12/92 - 03/93.
Neck Disorders in Little People
By Dr. George Bassett, LPA Today, 09/91 - 11/91.
Nutrition and the Little Person
By Dr. Judith Hall.
Oh, My Aching Back
By Dr. Robert Wassman Jr.
Parental Building Blocks of Critical Building Blocks in the Successful Dwarf
By Ron Morris, Little People of America, Los Angeles Chapter, March 1983.
Sleep Apnea, Special Concern for Little People
By Kate Feibusch, LPA Today, 07/89 - 09/89.
Special Problems of Anesthesia for Little People
By Dr. Judith Hall.
Dwarfs: Pathophysiology and Anesthetic Implications
BACK ONLINE! By Drs. Ivor S. Berkowitz, Srinivasa N. Raja, Karen S. Bender, and Steven E. Kopits, Anesthesiology, October 1990. In PDF format.
Spine and Spinal Cord Problems in Bone Dysplasias
By Dr. Richard Pauli, LPA Today, 12/91 - 02/92.
Achondroplasia and Spinal Stenosis
BACK ONLINE! By Dr. Jeffrey Fischgrund, spinal surgeon. A slide show.
Extended Limb Lengthening
Introduction
LPA Medical Advisory Board Position Paper
For Dwarfs, Mixed Reaction to Radical Limb-Lengthening Procedure
By Paul Payne, Associated Press, July 30, 2001.
Extended Limb-Lengthening: Setting the Record Straight
By Gillian Mueller. Revised for LPA Online in September 2002.
Woman Undergoes Drastic Surgery To Gain a Few Inches
By Anne McDermott, CNN, 1996.
Limb-Lengthening Tests Human Willpower
Patients endure unimaginable pain for a few inches
By Gretchen Parker, photos by Roberto Borea, Associated Press, February 18, 2004.
Articles and essays about dwarfism
Life as a Little Person
By Randi Henderson and Marjorie Centofanti, Hopkins Medical News.
A Most Congenial Activist
By Dan Kennedy, Northeastern University Magazine. A profile of Ruth Ricker, former president of the Little People of America.
Up with People: Dwarves Meet Identity Politics
By David Berreby, The New Republic.
Not Alone Anymore
Disability resources on the Internet. By Dan Kennedy, Salon.
A Child of Difference
By Lisa Abelow Hedley, the New York Times Magazine.
Aiming High
By Melissa Hendricks, photos by Mike Ciesielski, Johns Hopkins Magazine, April 1999. A profile of Dr. Michael Ain, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who is an achondroplastic dwarf.
The Seven Dwarfs and I
By Cara M. Egan. Originally published as a "My Turn" essay in Newsweek magazine.
A Dream Lives in a Grand Design
By Timothy Egan, photos by Susan E. Seubert, the New York Times, September 30, 1999. A feature on Matt Roloff's Western-theme, dwarf-proportion fantasy park near Portland, Oregon.
Cut Short
By David Davis, the Mojo News Wire, March 23, 2000. Thousands of undersized children were injected with experimental human growth hormone in the 1960s and 1970s. The treatment made them grow -- but it also made dozens of them die.
Occupations and Avocations
Compiled by Fred Short for LPA Online, January 2000. New parents of dwarf children may, understandably, be concerned about what the future holds. In fact, dwarf adults are successful teachers, lawyers, social workers, entertainers, and more. See what extraordinary things little people are doing.
A Lesson in Perseverance
By Carrie Ferguson, The Tennessean, June 17, 2001. A profile of Bonnie Mullinax, a Tennessee schoolteacher with dwarfism. Click here for a follow-up on the successful outcome of Ms. Mullinax's spinal-decompression surgery.
Meet Dr. Arnold
By Anita Srikameswaran, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 7, 2001. Photos by Annie O'Neill. "Pediatric resident at Children's wins high praise for her skills and determination." A wonderful profile of Dr. Jennifer Arnold, a pediatrician with SED.
A Hero Among Heroes
Colleen Fraser, a disability-rights activist and a dwarf from New Jersey, died on September 11, 2001. She was aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed outside Pittsburgh after passengers attacked the terrorists who were holding them hostage. The New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Council put together this moving tribute to Ms. Fraser's life.
No Parts for Little People
By Patrick "Flick" Harrison, FilmThreat.com, December 21, 2001. The hit movie Lord of the Rings is populated by dwarfs -- yet they are portrayed average-size actors who are shrunk through the use of computer technology. "I'd like to put them in the same neighborhood as Osama is in," says dwarf actor Brian Kline.
Love in Limbo
By Nahal Toosi, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 5, 2002. Karen and Walid Abdalla have visa problems. She's in Milwaukee; he can't get out of Jordan. Could their bureaucratic nightmare have anything to do with her dwarfism and other disabilities?
Politician Puts His Mind to Bigger Issues
By Brett Tomlinson, Columbia News Service, February 22, 2002. As both a dwarfism activist and a city councilor in Hoboken, New Jersey, Tony Soares has earned respect for his persuasiveness.
An Unexpected Connection
By Dan Kennedy, the UU World, March/April 2002. Henry Nasiff Jr. - a.k.a. "Hank the Angry, Drunken Dwarf" -- led a sad life and died an even sadder death. But there was more to him than his antics on The Howard Stern Show.
My Garden Story
By Fred and Linda Short, Carryongardening.org, September 24, 2002. UK couple shows off the perfect garden for people with dwarfism.
Small Wonder: Understanding My Daughter's Dwarfism
By Margaret Dedman, American Baby, December 2002. The Dedmans knew their baby girl would be different from other kids. They didn't know how much she would inspire them.
"Happiest Kid" Defies Nature
By Chester Allen, photos by Tony Overman, The Olympian, Olympia, Washington, December 29, 2002. Six-year-old Easton Robertson lives with campomelic dysplasia, a rare and medically complex form of dwarfism.
Big-Hearted Family Is Complete
By Jessie Milligan, photos by Rodger Mallison, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, January 10, 2003. Dwarf couple from Texas adopts a Taiwanese girl, also with dwarfism. (Reprinted in the Deseret News, of Salt Lake City, Utah.)
"Comedian" Crosses the Line
By Bill Bradford, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 3, 2003. Little People of America activist Bradford blasts tasteless Jimmy Kimmel shtick.
Little Ones Are Sweeter
By Natalie Rosa, The Echo, St. Michael's College, Colchester, Vermont, March 12, 2003. Life through the eyes of little people.
Lee Kitchens Dies at 73
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, May 16, 2003. Mr. Kitchens was a pioneering engineer for Texas Instruments, a former mayor of Ransom Canyon, Texas, and a founding father of Little People of America.
The Quiet Death of a Civil-Rights Pioneer
By Dan Kennedy, BostonPhoenix.com, May 22, 2003. Thoughts on the death of Lee Kitchens.
Back-Street Driver
By Tony Bizjak, photo by Anne Chadwick Williams, Sacramento Bee, June 16, 2003. Short-statured politico Dan Okenfuss commutes to California State House by bicycle.
Let's Be Wary of the Genetics Revolution
By Nicholas Kristof, New York Times, July 7, 2003. Kristof discusses the new eugenics with his cousin Tom Shakespeare, a British scientist who is an achondroplastic dwarf. (Reprinted in the Age, an Australian newspaper.)
A Tribute to Al Stickney
Compiled by Kimmay.com, 2003. Mr. Stickney died in July 2003 at the age of 73.
Peter Dinklage Lives Large
Associated Press, October 2, 2003. A profile of actor Peter Dinklage, the lead character in The Station Agent.
Little Chance
By Dan Kennedy, Boston Phoenix, October 17, 2003. The Station Agent and its star, Peter Dinklage, cast dwarfism in a new, well-rounded light.
Dwarves Look to End Discrimination
By Ben Davies, BBC News, November 12, 2003. Brits with dwarfism fight against prejudice.
Welcome to Lee Breuer's Dollhouse
By Charles McNulty, Village Voice, November 12, 2003. Lee Breuur goes little - and literal - with his productin of Ibsen's classic.
Almost Famous
By Erin Thompson, The Stranger, Seattle, November 27, 2003. My life as a dwarf before and after The Station Agent. Or, my small celebrity.
Dwarf-Date Show Sparks Controversy
Reuters News Service, January 30, 2004. Some criticize, but show has support from little-people group.
Dwarfs Wear Black
By Cara Egan, The Guardian, London, March 25, 2004. At just over 4 feet, Peter Dinklage has been called the Sexiest Man Alive. Being of a similar height, I love him for it.
Contestant Knows No Limits in "Amazing Race" Run
By Ann Oldenburg, USA Today, July 27, 2004. At 4 feet tall, Charla Faddoul, 28, seemed an unlikely candidate for CBS's "The Amazing Race 5." Also, see follow-up published on August 19, 2004.
Diversity, Disability, and Deb Dagit
Equity, Summer 2004. Working for an inclusive corporate America.
Professor Fighting Discrimination Step-by-Step
By Jake Ellison, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 24, 2004. A profile of Paul Steven Miller, a pioneering disability-rights lawyer with dwarfism.
Hiring Real-Life Munchkins for Your Next Party
By Jesse Harlan Alderman, Columbia News Service, February 15, 2005. Despite the title, a serious look at the controversy over dwarfs in the entertainment industry.
"Oz" Coroner from Wisconsin Going Strong at 89
By Elizabeth LeSure, Associated Press, May 9, 2005. A feature on Meinhardt Raabe, the "oldest living Munchkin" from The Wizard of Oz.
An Anything-but-Average Film
By Kim Vo, San Jose Mercury News, June 27, 2005. In her new documentary, Big Enough, Stanford professor Jan Krawitz revisits the lives of dwarfs. Also, see related story in the Lansing State Journal of Michigan.
Little Swimmer "All Heart" in Pool
By Francine King, Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, July 29, 2005. Seven-year-old is an impressive competitor despite having a form of dwarfism.
Jordan Inspires as He Tumbles His Way to Top
By Jeff Patterson, Times-Picayune, New Orleans, July 31, 2005. Thirty-six-inch, 24-pound teenager mesmerizes his competition.
Living with Achondroplasia
By Ivy Broadhead, Evening Chronicle, Newcastle, UK, August 25, 2005. The 17-year-old writer talks candidly about her life and answers some frequently asked questions.
A New Look at Dwarfs
By Andrew Solomon, Newsday, August 7, 2005. A review of Betty Adelson's two "extraordinary" books, The Lives of Dwarfs and Dwarfism.
Shelton Family Educating Others on Dwarfism
WTNH-TV, New Haven, Conn., August 30, 2005.
No-Nonsense Advocate
By Josie Huang, Portland Press Herald, Maine, September 3, 2005. Barbara Spiegel wants all to know: Little people are fitting in just fine, thanks.
Camp Barnabus Gives Kids Guidance, Support
By Linda Leicht, News-Leader, Springfield, Mo., September 18, 2005. LP teen volunteers at Christian camp for disabled kids.
|
