Organizational Overview
Little People of America, Inc., is a national non-profit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. We are the only dwarfism support organization that includes all 200+ forms of dwarfism. There are an estimated 30,000 people with dwarfism in the United States, and 651,700 in the world. No other non-profit in the world provides more resources, support and information for people with dwarfism.
Membership is available to individuals with a medical diagnosis of dwarfism or form of short stature, as well as their families, grandparents, relatives, and all medical professionals. Little People of America (LPA) defines dwarfism as a medical or genetic condition that usually results in an adult height of 4'10" or shorter, among both men and women, although in some cases a person with a dwarfing condition may be slightly taller than that. The average height of an adult with dwarfism is 4’0, but typical heights range from 2’8 to 4’8.
The organizational structure of LPA breaks down into 14 Districts. Each district is composed of one or more surrounding states. Within each district are multiple chapters. Each chapter has it's own president and conducts meeting and local area events.
For more information about the organization, visit the national site at lpaonline.org.
Join LPA
There are any number of reasons to consider joining LPA. Perhaps you are a little person. Perhaps you are the average sized parent of a chlid who has been diagnosed with a dwarfing condition. Perhaps you have a friend, acquaintance or family member who is a little person. Perhaps you are a professional who is involved with disability rights, accessibility products, medicine, academia, law, politics, journalism, media communication with an interest in LPA events.
How to Join: You can join by submitting a membership application to LPA. You can choose between joining as a lifetime member or as a yearly member.
What to Expect as a New Member: As a member of LPA living in the Kansas City Metro area, you can look forward to receiving notices about local Chapter activities and special events including pot lucks, picnics, holiday parties, parent meetings, and medical presentations.
You will also receive the national newsletter - LPA Today, national member directory, and notices about the annual national LPA organization summer conference.
There are 8 types of LPA membership:
As of January 1, 2010 dues are $55 per household per year. Lifetime membership is $750. Senior memberships (age 65+) are $20. International Members and full-time college or vocational students are $35.
Membership Benefits
On the surface, LPA membership benefits might appear to be limited to a quarterly newsletter and nothing more. This couldn't be further from the truth. A membership in LPA does provide you a high quality, full color LPA Today quarterly newsletter, but that's only the beginning.
For New Parents: Our parent groups are one of our most valuable membership benefits. Imagine parent-to-parent and peer support from thousands of people who understand the variety of medical, educational, social, and psychological concerns experienced by people with dwarfism. According to the current birth rate of 4 million babies born each year in the US, we have 400 new babies each year with a type of dwarfism. We have knowledge and energy to share!
For Pre Teens: Imagine being able to play with kids your own size, engage in sport competitions where you are an equal, and knowing that you are in a group of your own peers. LPA chapters, districts and national schedule many annual gathering, picnics and events that allow our children to meet others just like themselves. It's amazing how fast friendships are made. And the best part is the friendship continues long after the event is over.
For Teens: For many short stature individuals, this can be the most difficult times in our lives. So many questions arise as we mature, and life as a teenager can be a challenge. LPA understands this need and has created Teen social groups on both the national and district levels. Teens can chat with other teens and share experiences, lending support on everyday life issues.
For Adults: As if life as a teenager wasn't complicated enough, a dwarf headed out to college or the workplace will face a bunch of new challenges. An individual with an LPA membership has at their disposal many tools to assist in everyday life. Those who are headed out in pursuit of their college degree can apply for an educational scholarship. In the workplace, LPA has national advocates constantly working on legislation regarding genetic discrimination, patient healthcare rights, public access and community outreach.
Medical Issues: LPA is committed to providing access to the most current medical information available. Dedicated and experienced physicians from LPA’s Medical Advisory Board generously volunteer to assist members and their physicians with medical consultations, referrals and critical information. These physicians cover multi-specialized fields of practice.
District & National Conferences: Each year, LPA holds one National and up to 2 conferences per district. The National conference draws upwards of 2000, including 200 international attendees. These conferences offer so many wonderful things - workshops, social opportunities, dances, connections, medical resources, and an EXPO of dwarfism-related products. District conferences are held in the spring and fall. The national conference occurs in a different place in the United States each year, in either late June or early July.
Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA): DAAA is a sister organization to LPA and is dedicated to providing people with dwarfism the chance to compete in athletic events. Their mission is "To encourage people with dwarfism to participate in sports regardless of their level of skills". DAAA events occur throughout the year regionally but their largest events concur with the yearly LPA National Conference. Events include; swimming, track and field, boccia, ping-pong, weight lifting, soccer, and basketball. DAAA also helps train and support paralympic athletes with dwarfism to compete at their world games.
Little People of America, Inc., is a national non-profit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. We are the only dwarfism support organization that includes all 200+ forms of dwarfism. There are an estimated 30,000 people with dwarfism in the United States, and 651,700 in the world. No other non-profit in the world provides more resources, support and information for people with dwarfism.
Membership is available to individuals with a medical diagnosis of dwarfism or form of short stature, as well as their families, grandparents, relatives, and all medical professionals. Little People of America (LPA) defines dwarfism as a medical or genetic condition that usually results in an adult height of 4'10" or shorter, among both men and women, although in some cases a person with a dwarfing condition may be slightly taller than that. The average height of an adult with dwarfism is 4’0, but typical heights range from 2’8 to 4’8.
The organizational structure of LPA breaks down into 14 Districts. Each district is composed of one or more surrounding states. Within each district are multiple chapters. Each chapter has it's own president and conducts meeting and local area events.
For more information about the organization, visit the national site at lpaonline.org.
Join LPA
There are any number of reasons to consider joining LPA. Perhaps you are a little person. Perhaps you are the average sized parent of a chlid who has been diagnosed with a dwarfing condition. Perhaps you have a friend, acquaintance or family member who is a little person. Perhaps you are a professional who is involved with disability rights, accessibility products, medicine, academia, law, politics, journalism, media communication with an interest in LPA events.
How to Join: You can join by submitting a membership application to LPA. You can choose between joining as a lifetime member or as a yearly member.
What to Expect as a New Member: As a member of LPA living in the Kansas City Metro area, you can look forward to receiving notices about local Chapter activities and special events including pot lucks, picnics, holiday parties, parent meetings, and medical presentations.
You will also receive the national newsletter - LPA Today, national member directory, and notices about the annual national LPA organization summer conference.
There are 8 types of LPA membership:
- Regular members are Little People who are current in dues and aged 24 or over.
- Young adult members are Little People who are current in dues and aged 18 through 23 inclusive.
- Teen members are Little People who are current in dues and aged 13 through 17 inclusive. This status includes voting privileges in the teen group only.
- Children are Little People who are current in dues, through age 12 inclusive. This status includes voting privileges in the children's group only.
- Auxiliary members are average-sized relatives or guardians of a Little Person.
- Life members are short statured or average sized persons. These members are entitled to permanent membership without further payment of dues.
- Honorary Life members are those individuals who have contributed in an outstanding way, on a national basis to LPA. They need not be Little People but must receive three-fourths approval of the Board of Directors, and no more than one person each year may be so designated.
- Supporting members are average-sized persons who are not relatives of a little person and are supporters of LPA.
As of January 1, 2010 dues are $55 per household per year. Lifetime membership is $750. Senior memberships (age 65+) are $20. International Members and full-time college or vocational students are $35.
Membership Benefits
On the surface, LPA membership benefits might appear to be limited to a quarterly newsletter and nothing more. This couldn't be further from the truth. A membership in LPA does provide you a high quality, full color LPA Today quarterly newsletter, but that's only the beginning.
For New Parents: Our parent groups are one of our most valuable membership benefits. Imagine parent-to-parent and peer support from thousands of people who understand the variety of medical, educational, social, and psychological concerns experienced by people with dwarfism. According to the current birth rate of 4 million babies born each year in the US, we have 400 new babies each year with a type of dwarfism. We have knowledge and energy to share!
For Pre Teens: Imagine being able to play with kids your own size, engage in sport competitions where you are an equal, and knowing that you are in a group of your own peers. LPA chapters, districts and national schedule many annual gathering, picnics and events that allow our children to meet others just like themselves. It's amazing how fast friendships are made. And the best part is the friendship continues long after the event is over.
For Teens: For many short stature individuals, this can be the most difficult times in our lives. So many questions arise as we mature, and life as a teenager can be a challenge. LPA understands this need and has created Teen social groups on both the national and district levels. Teens can chat with other teens and share experiences, lending support on everyday life issues.
For Adults: As if life as a teenager wasn't complicated enough, a dwarf headed out to college or the workplace will face a bunch of new challenges. An individual with an LPA membership has at their disposal many tools to assist in everyday life. Those who are headed out in pursuit of their college degree can apply for an educational scholarship. In the workplace, LPA has national advocates constantly working on legislation regarding genetic discrimination, patient healthcare rights, public access and community outreach.
Medical Issues: LPA is committed to providing access to the most current medical information available. Dedicated and experienced physicians from LPA’s Medical Advisory Board generously volunteer to assist members and their physicians with medical consultations, referrals and critical information. These physicians cover multi-specialized fields of practice.
District & National Conferences: Each year, LPA holds one National and up to 2 conferences per district. The National conference draws upwards of 2000, including 200 international attendees. These conferences offer so many wonderful things - workshops, social opportunities, dances, connections, medical resources, and an EXPO of dwarfism-related products. District conferences are held in the spring and fall. The national conference occurs in a different place in the United States each year, in either late June or early July.
Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA): DAAA is a sister organization to LPA and is dedicated to providing people with dwarfism the chance to compete in athletic events. Their mission is "To encourage people with dwarfism to participate in sports regardless of their level of skills". DAAA events occur throughout the year regionally but their largest events concur with the yearly LPA National Conference. Events include; swimming, track and field, boccia, ping-pong, weight lifting, soccer, and basketball. DAAA also helps train and support paralympic athletes with dwarfism to compete at their world games.
