Dwarfism Awareness Month is observed every October to raise public awareness about

dwarfism Dwarfism is a condition of people and animals marked by unusually small size or short stature. In humans, it is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than , regardless of sex; the average adult height among people with dwarfism is . '' ...

, a medical or

genetic condition A genetic disorder is a health problem caused by one or more abnormalities in the genome. It can be caused by a mutation in a single gene (monogenic) or multiple genes (polygenic) or by a chromosome abnormality. Although polygenic disorders are ...

that results in short stature, typically defined as an adult height of 4 feet 10 inches (147 cm) or shorter. There are over 200 different types of dwarfism, with

achondroplasia Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance whose primary feature is dwarfism. It is the most common cause of dwarfism and affects about 1 in 27,500 people. In those with the condition, the Rhizomeli ...

being the most common. The month serves as a time to educate the public about the social, physical, and medical challenges people with dwarfism may face, while also promoting respect, societal participation, and accurate representation. The campaign aims to challenge stereotypes, reduce stigma, and encourage understanding of the lived experiences of people with dwarfism. It draws attention to issues such as accessibility, discrimination, and the need for fair treatment in education, employment, healthcare, and public life. Awareness efforts also seek to discourage harmful language and media portrayals that contribute to misunderstanding or dehumanization. Organisations such as

Little People of America Little People of America (LPA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which provides support, resources, and information to individuals with dwarfism and their families. Founding LPA was founded in 1957 by actor Billy Barty when he informally ca ...

Dwarf Sports Association UK The Dwarf Sports Association UK (DSAUK) aims to "make regular sporting opportunities accessible and enjoyable to ... everyone of restricted growth in the United Kingdom". The association was founded by Arthur Dean and fellow members of the Restric ...

Restricted Growth Association The Restricted Growth Association (RGA) is a UK charity that supports people with dwarfism (restricted growth). The RGA was formed in 1970 by Charles Pocock, Martin Nelson and other individuals in the UK wanting to provide a support network for pe ...

, Little People UK,

Child Growth Foundation A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''child ...

Belangenvereniging van Kleine Mensen The Belangenvereniging van Kleine Mensen (BVKM) (English: ''Interest Association of Little People'') is the Dutch Patients' Organization for little people and patients with skeletal dysplasia. The association focuses on individuals with one or mo ...

and

Bundesverband Kleinwüchsige Menschen und ihre Familien The Bundesverband Kleinwüchsige Menschen und ihre Familien e.V. (BKMF e.V.) is a German organization in the field of health-oriented, family-oriented self-help. It advocates for the interests and concerns of short statured individuals and thei ...

actively support awareness and advocacy efforts throughout the year, as well as corporations like Biomarin, Ascendis,

Sanofi Sanofi S.A. is a French Multinational corporation, multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, France. The corporation was established in 1973 and merged with Synthélabo in 1999 to form Sanofi-Synthélabo. In 200 ...

and BridgeBio.

Dwarfism Awareness Day

Dwarfism Awareness Day is marked on October 25. The date honors the birthday of

Billy Barty Billy Barty (born William John Bertanzetti; October 25, 1924 – December 23, 2000) was an American actor and activist. In adult life, he stood tall, due to cartilage–hair hypoplasia dwarfism. Because of his short stature, he was often cast i ...

(1924–2000), actor and founder of

, who championed rights and representation for people with short stature.

References

{{Reflist Dwarfism Public awareness campaigns Awareness months October observances