Dwarfism
Briana Blow
PED 365
10/12/2020
Dr. Park
Dwarfism
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.
Dwarfism refers to a group of conditions
characterized by shorter than normal
skeletal growth. This shortness can be
manifested in the arms and legs or trunk.
There are over 300 conditions that cause
abnormal skeletal growth and dwarfism.
Achondroplasia is the most common
type of short-limb dwarfism, occurring
in around one in 25,000 children with
both sexes at equal risk. This type of
skeletal dysplasia (abnormal skeletal
growth) is usually diagnosed at birth.
Symptom's:
a trunk of relatively normal length
disproportionately short arms and legs
bowed legs
reduced joint mobility in the elbow
other joints that seem overly flexible or 'double
jointed'
shortened hands and feet
a large head
a flat mid-face
crowded teeth, because of small upper jaw
a prominent forehead
a flattened bridge of the nose.
Dwarfism Awareness Month
In an effort to be proactive in
encouraging public awareness of
positive stories of the dwarfism
community and in keeping with
our mission LPA has declared
October National Dwarfism
Awareness Month. © 2010 LPA.
States that have declared
October as Dwarfism Awareness
Month:
•
Delaware
•
Puerto Rico
•
Missouri
•
Indiana
•
Oklahoma
•
Illinois
•
Massachusetts
•
Kansas
•
Mississippi
•
New Mexico
•
New York
•
New Jersey
•
California
•
Arizona
•
•
•
•
•
•
Rhode Island
Maryland
South Carolina
Maine
New Hampshire
Ohio
individuals with Disabled Education Act
(IDEA)
 Zero reject: requires that no child with a disability be excluded from a public education
 Nondiscriminatory testing: schools must use a variety of unbiased tests to determine eligibility
and must be given in the student’s native language
 Free and appropriate public education (FAPE): Students eligible for services must have an
individualized education program (IEP) detailing their needs, accommodations, services, goals,
and objectives
 Least-restrictive environment (LRE): eligible students are entitled to be education with their
nondisabled peers to the greatest extent possible
 Due process: Must be followed in all placement decisions and changes in placement. Records
must be kept and are confidential and parents must be involved in the process of planning and
making placements. Parents have the right to dispute plan. Schools must collaborate with
parents in the design and implementation of services.
 Transition services, early childhood education (from birth on), and assessment participation are
also included
Modifications to the School
Handicap accessible doors
Stools in all public areas
Lowered paper towel
dispensers and mirrors
Motion sensitive light switches
Modifications to the classroom
A lowered coat hook
A home made cushion
and stool
Ergo Chair for little people with adjustable height,
back support, and foot support
The Tripp Trapp Chair: an adjustable
chair good for special classes like art
and computers
Physical Education
 According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), children with disabilities cannot be
excluded from public school education.
 In general, a physical education program for people
with dwarfism should follow the same guidelines as a
program developed for people without disabilities
because on an intellectual level, students with
dwarfism do not function any differently from students
without dwarfism.
 Students with dwarfism are disadvantaged in most
sports; however, there are some sports in which the
average truck size and short limbs are advantageousPowerlifting and Gymnastics Other sports included are:
Swimming, Track, Bowling, and Basketball courts set at
the standard height, regulation court size, and ball size,
even though these activities put stress on joints these
sports can be modified for them to participate in.
Physical Education Cont.
 Physical education teachers and coaches need to be aware of certain factors
associated with physical education and sports activities for people with dwarfism.
Because of delay motor milestones in the children with achondroplasia, elementary
physical education program should focus on the attainment of fundamental motor skills
and patterns before the performance of more advanced activities.
 Also, as the teacher responsibility to maintain an environment that encourages positive
interaction and social contacts among all students.
Daily Challenges
 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v
=sU7gvkmFFzg
References
 Department of Health & Human Services. (2014, August 31). Dwarfism. Retrieved October
12, 2020, from
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/dwarfism
 Wagonlander, L. (2009). School accommodations for students with dwarfism. Retrieved
from
https://www.lpaonline.org/assets/documents/School%20Accommodations%20LPA.ppt
 Bhargava, H. (2020, September 08). Dwarfism: Types, Causes, Treatments, and More.
Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://www.webmd.com/children/dwarfism-causestreatments