DwAM four days in

It's Dwarfism Awareness Month.

It's four days in and I haven't posted a thing about it. Not a sentence. Not a word.

I kind of feel guilty about that.

I also feel frustrated about it.

Months ago I was all fired up and sought out people to tell their stories right here on this blog. I wanted stories from short statured individuals, parents, siblings, average statured children of short statured parents, friends.

Only one person responded.

To say I was disheartened would be an understatement.

Then I thought that perhaps I could interview people who were in my life about their experiences of knowing, working with and dealing with short statured people. I was going to interview my personal trainer, my chiropractor, my best friend, my hairdresser, my sister.

I didn't do any of it. My sister is writing her reflections and they've been a great talking points over coffee. I do hope she finishes what she's working on. She's so articulate and I'm sure you'll enjoy reading her beautiful words.

But here it is. Dwarfism Awareness Month Day 4 and I've not written a word.

Until now.

Did you know?

● Achondroplasia,  the most common form of dwarfism occurs once in approximately 20,000 births.

● There are over 200 different types of dwarfism.

● Dwarfism occurs as a random mutation of a gene. (I'm an X-man - mutant and proud!)

● 80% of people with dwarfism have average statured parents and siblings.

● Dwarfism is not a disease that needs to be cured.

● The life expectancy of a person with dwarfism is the same as for an average sized person.

● People with dwarfism have careers and jobs in all fields - doctors, nurses, midwives, accountants, nutritionists, mechanics, actors, architects, psychologists, vet assistants, teachers, shop owners, computer programmers, entertainers, truck drivers, pastors, painters, editors...you name it!

● People with dwarfism are able to drive.

● They can also be parents.

● People with dwarfism would prefer to be called short statured, "a person with dwarfism" or as a "Little Person"...but most of all we would prefer to be referred to by our names!

I'm hoping to have other posts up this month that will help to raise awareness of dwarfism - not only in Australia, but around the world.