Always an Advocate
If you’re skeptical about changing society’s discriminatory treatment of people with dwarfism and other disabilities, Van Etten offers hope with these words
Van Etten repeatedly demonstrates the power of advocacy in this book. Titans of industry are now required to lower ATMs, gas pumps, and elevator buttons to be within reach of people previously ignored. Public transportation must be accessible. Cheering crowds applauding dwarf tossing contests are silenced. Many homeowners, school children, and volunteer leaders enjoy equal access, respect, and civility.
Read this book and be inspired to advocate for the changes you—and others—need. It can be done.
Praise for Always an Advocate
This is a terrific book, and there have been very few as aptly named. Change requires a lot of effort. And when a righteous voice needs to be amplified, Angela rose to the challenge time and time again. Her seemingly endless supply of energy comes from her faith in God and her love of the underdog. She’s been a fierce advocate for decades, a righteous voice. She positively impacted millions and I personally owe her a debt of gratitude. She’s paved the way to a better life for me, my family and countless others. Thank you Angela!
Bill Klein,
Co-author of Life is Short and
Co-Star of TLC’s Little Couple
Angela Muir Van Etten and her husband, Robert, have been respected members of the dwarfism community for many years. In her latest book, Always an Advocate, she tells the story of a turbulent era within LPA, recounts her campaign against the demeaning and dangerous practice of dwarf tossing, and writes about her work on public access issues for people with dwarfism and other disabilities. You will learn a lot about the challenges that dwarfs face in their everyday lives — and about the life and activism of this remarkable woman.
Dan Kennedy,
Author of Little People:
Learning to See the World
Through My Daughter’s Eyes
This book offers the reader a grand tour of local, state, and federal opportunities for advocacy. The only requirement is passion, dedication, a thick skin, patience, and a sense of humor.
Jim Kay,
LPA Historian
In Always an Advocate, her third book on dwarfism, Angela chronicles the politics and leadership challenges in the Little People of America (LPA) organization, then tackles the monstrous “sport” of dwarf tossing, and finally explores her advocacy for people with disabilities who must fight for equal access in so many areas such as education, transportation, voting, and housing.
. . . Be inspired and encouraged by Angela’s determination to take on all challenges, and eventually overcome and master them with an ample dose of faith and humor. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I encourage others to do so, especially if you think an obstacle is too big to vanquish.
Genevieve Cousminer, Esq.,
former Director of the Coalition
for Independent Living Options, Inc.
As a former President of LPA, I am proud to be in the same company as Angela Van Etten. I am proud to be part of a community to which Van Etten contributed so much. Always an Advocate is a testament to Van Etten’s dedication and commitment to service. Through this service, Van Etten contributed in countless ways to the advancement of the dwarfism community, the disability community, and the broader community.
Gary Arnold,
LPA Past President
Featured Reviews
Angela has once again knocked it out of the ballpark with her new book. As Angela has done for Little People of America community giving her time over the years, her book builds a bridge for better understanding for so many in the entire disability community. Letting her faith show through in such an amazing way really is refreshing. I am sure that you will enjoy the read and be inspired.
A section that really caught me was when she was advocating in the Florida “In response to media speculation that Workman had introduced his bill without talking to any little people, I asked him if he had ever met a little person. His answer was stunning—Robert and I made it two! In other words, he started this whole mess without even knowing a single person with dwarfism,” this really jumped from the page for me. Truly inspiring!
~ Michael (September 27, 2021)
Angela Van Etten doesn’t disappoint with the third of her trilogy entitled Always an Advocate! Angela might be short in stature but don’t let that fool you! This woman packs a mighty punch when it comes to advocating and making change for people with disabilities! Angela’s total understanding of how to get things done is a great example for anyone dealing with discrimination in any way; or life in general. Learning that being steady and persistent is how you get change to happen is the gist of this book. Never underestimate the power of ONE! Angela explains how her personal experiences and disappointments have translated into working with advocacy groups and local, state and federal legislatures to make positive change for people with disabilities. Advocacy is on ongoing process and it is my hope that by recommending this book people will learn that they also can make change. Thanks Angela Van Etten for your dedication to persons with disabilities.
~ Donna (October 18, 2021)
In a year where we have seen a multitude of books tied to disability, and the disability rights movement, come out, Angela stands alone as THE guide book for how to actually make the changes that we need to see in society. While inspiring, it never verges into inspiration porn.
“Always an Advocate” takes the reader behind the scenes of one of the longest Disability-led membership organizations in the country (little people of America) and behind the scenes of discussions of complicated issues including dwarf tossing and the emergence of new technologies.
I strongly recommend this book for any growing advocate from the ADA generation and after. It reminds us that the battles that we fought aren’t easy, and that the work is far from done, while also arming you with the level of analysis and thinking we need as a movement to succeed.
A great read but also an important one! Pick it up today.
~ Rebecca (October 24, 2021)
This is an amazing book about passion, patience and perseverance. For decades Angela has worked through many challenges for others who face struggles in their lives due to disabilities.
She shares her faith and humor throughout the book as she talks about her journey as an advocate. Many times she had to overcome challenges of her own but with God’s help did so because of her genuine desire to help others. She fought for banning dwarf tossing, improving reach barriers in public facilities and advocating for those with ADHD, just to mention a few. These endeavors have taken years of patience and courage but she never gives up her fight for the dignity of human beings.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is an advocate and needs encouragement. Angela’s passion is refreshing and non-stop! As you read this book you will see that she gives proof to the following quote, “Those who leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s hand in everything.”
~ Lois (September 9, 2021)
Another great read by Angela Muir Van Etten! This book gives a peek into Angela’s life, the life of a Little Person, and documents her willingness to jump into the battle to help those who are struggling due to any disability. As the mom of a blind child, I was particularly interested in her chapters in Part III on Equal Access. It is amazing the number of obstacles there are to independent living for people with disabilities. Many of these can be fixed with a little common sense and consultation with those who live these situations daily. Thankfully there are people like Angela who can help point these out, and fight for those “fixes” to make things right. Reading this book gives me hope that one day there will be “Equal Access” for all.
~ Debby (September 16, 2021)
Inspired to Fight for what is Right
It is not until you have a disability or have walked the road with someone with a disability that you can relate to the day to day struggles one has to face. Handicap parking is always a struggle and if you can’t find a space you have to accept regular parking which forces you to deal with access to ramps for a disability wheelchair person. Always an Advocate is an easy to read detail of Angela’s lifetime of advocating for what is right. The encounters of ATMs, parking spaces, and access to public buildings are a few of the giants Angela has had to overcome. Her faith in God is truly remarkable in facing and overcoming obstacle after obstacle. Angela gives God the credit for making the impossible happen. Always an Advocate will help you to see that it takes a willingness and determination to step up to the plate and take action. Read this book and know that you too can make a difference in advocating for what is right.
~ Brenda (September 30, 2021)
Always an Advocate is a well written inspirational book to read. The Author’s involvement shows her compassion to make everyday a better environment for those with disabilities. Her selfless drive to work tirelessly through the hurdles shows how much she wants the best for everyone. As explained in each section. The politics in the LPA Organization. The resistance of restaurants, bars, and public establishments to do away with Dwarf Tossing. Angela fought [against dwarf tossing because it cannot be made safe and against] the greed the establishments owners wanted from the crowds it would draw each night. In the final section, the changes made to day to day living are wonderful, and to many overseen and not considered to be a big deal.
Having read the book and learned what changes Angela has championed for us in our daily lives: lower ATMs and the buttons in the elevators. We should all be thankful for her grit and tenacity. A book everyone should read!!
~ Becky (September 27, 2021)
‘Always an Advocate’ is the third book in Angela Muir Van Etten’s trilogy on living with dwarfism. As the title suggests Angela does not passively accept the limitations placed on the ability of people with dwarfism to play a full role in society. Angela, a qualified lawyer in both her native New Zealand and the United States, where she now lives with her husband Robert, is not one to sit back and meekly accept inequalities.
In both Little People of New Zealand and Little People of America she has played important roles in the fight against practices that discriminate against people with dwarfism from campaigning for ATMs to be lowered the six inches necessary to make them accessible to people with dwarfism or wheelchair users and therefore allow them to be able to do something most of us take for granted.
Accessible toilets, including having wash basins, toilet roll holders, towel dispensers or air dryers etc. at a suitable height is also an issue taken up by Angela. So too is accessible public transport. Angela’s account of the fight to make buses accessible to everyone in the area of Florida where she lives is particularly inspiring.
She understands the need to involve many groups of people who are largely dependent upon public transport because, for one reason or another, they are unable to drive or don’t have easy access to a car. Angela astutely observes that if public transport does not run after early evening then public meetings about public transport need to be held at a time they can be accessed by public transport. This is not always considered when meetings are being arranged. In fact I used some of Angela’s ideas in a local campaign where I live in Wales for much improved public transport.
Perhaps the most inspiring section is the campaign run by Little People of America to ban ‘dwarf tossing’ in bars in Florida and New York. Angela was very much involved in this campaign, her legal background proving a major asset in getting this supposed ‘sport’ banned.
My major quibble with the book is around how disability is defined. I am not familiar with discussions in the USA but I am aware of those in the disability rights movement in Britain who argue for a distinction between ‘impairment’ and ‘disability’. On that basis someone may have an impairment (dwarfism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and so on) but what ‘disables’ them is the lack of cash machines, hand dryers etc at a suitable height, lack of ramps to allow access for wheelchairs or scooters, inaccessible and infrequent buses or trains. In this view ‘disabled ‘ is not the opposite of ‘able’, still less of ‘able bodied’ but of ‘enabled. . .
Angela tends to use both the medical view of disability alongside the social model which sees disability as exclusion from playing a full role in some because of the failure by society to cater for the needs of those with physical or mental impairments. Her campaigns around access to public transport, education, ATMs etc. are testament to that.
While I may disagree with Angela on some aspects of disability I nevertheless found ‘Always An Advocate’ an important book, well written, easy to read, funny at times and above all conveying Angela’s passion for fighting for and defending the rights of disabled people. I certainly recommend it.
~ Geoff (September 16, 2021)
Angela Van Etten is the best kind of advocate: one who effectively combines knowledge, expertise, and empathy springing from personal experience. Her accounts in Always an Advocate will inspire and motivate readers from all walks of life. Whether you have identified a disability in your own life, or know someone who has been limited by disability, this book will encourage you to step off the sidelines to become an advocate. This doesn’t mean you will do or should do what Angela has done. But it does mean you will be open to the opportunities for advocacy in your own circle of influence, small or great.
~ Ava (September 16, 2021)
Having read her two previous books, I was eager to read the third volume of Angela Van Etten’s autobiography. It exceeded my expectations. Her description of her years of advocacy on many different issues makes compelling reading, and I read the whole book in one sitting. The range of her concerns and actions include not only issues of concern to little people, but those of people of many other disabilities and ages. With balance problems of my own, I have used a walker for many years, and I can identify with and appreciate her concerns for inaccessible bathrooms, public transportation, and such necessities of life as ATMs and parking spaces. Reading her books has expanded my own understanding of the needs of others and how they might be met.
~ Dianne (September 16, 2021)
Some of us take for granted that we can pick up a ride in a cab when needed or count on an uneventful trip to the zoo. “Always an Advocate” highlights the struggles to access everyday life that faces individuals with special needs. Uniquely written from the perspective of a bright, witty, and fiercely determined woman who happens to be of small stature, “Always an Advocate” will engage and amaze you from page one. From her work with the Little People of America and her role in eradicating the barbaric practice of Dwarf tossing, this book provides a peek into the lives and struggles of individuals with dwarfism. As an advocate, I admire the determination and resolve Van Etten employs throughout her life to right the wrongs in society and never take “no” for an answer. An inspiration to all, Van Etten’s perseverance will inspire advocates for the rights of underserved populations to follow their path and, with God’s strength, continue to strive for the equality, dignity, and respect deserved by all people.
~ Ann (September 26, 2021)
Always an Advocate is more than an autobiography about an amazing woman, it’s an insightful and engaging history of the civil rights movement for people of short stature at the turn of the 21st Century. I found it difficult to put the book down!
Angela has given us an unique opportunity to see the world from a perspective that is very different from what most people experience. The strikingly personal experiences she shares of herself, her husband and other short statured friends, illustrate a broad perspective on what’s important in life. I was amazed to read of the pivotal positioning and strategic planning that Angela went through in “Breaking the Six-Inch Reach Barrier.” She was able to get all the building codes and federal accessibility laws to reduce the maximum height of things we expect people to reach and operate, from 54″ to 48″. While that may seem like a small change, in fact it suddenly allowed “everyone” to more easily use our built environment.
I hope that many, many people read this book, to see the world from a different perspective and understand the impact that “one” person can have on our world to make it a better place for everyone.
~ John (September 30, 2021)
This author’s latest book, “Always an Advocate,” is one that you must read. It chronicles her life of activism as an adult, during which time she dealt with numerous issues relating to rights for people who are facing challenges because of a physical or mental limitation in amazing detail. . . I had the honor and privilege of reading “Always an Advocate” during the summer in the UK, it was very insightful and gave me a much better foundation of understanding of the issues faced by Little People and dwarfism. . . Angela knows her expertise, and this comes across clearly in the way that she has arranged the chapters and sections, for example “Part III, Equal Access.”
Each chapter was easy to read (length and font) compatible with assistive technology and it took me three days to read initially as I was fascinated by the similarities in the challenges faced by those with similar accessibility needs, I was engaged. Angela’s book is about having faith and hope to overcome challenges and I might be wrong, but I feel that these attributes fuel the campaigns that she has led as well as her legal career.
The journey of being an advocate is about finding solutions to barriers and challenges while forming alliances too. In a way, it’s biographical as it is Angela’s lived personal and professional experiences. Many people with disabilities or impairments often face many obstacles which many override because they become advocates and solution-focused people. For instance, Part 3 focuses on solutions to resolve other universal challenges such as inclusive education, accessing financial resources and independent living.
I was very concerned about the ‘“sport” of dwarf tossing’ that tossing people had been an acceptable phenomena and when I read those words by Angela, “I later read in newspaper accounts of dwarf tossing that I wasn’t the only one to regard the practice of using a dwarf as a human missile to be a “spectacle which dehumanizes and degrades dwarfs to the point of being a mere object.” It resonated to me that the way disabled people are viewed by some in societies, is that of a ‘play-thing”, something to be ridiculed, and sadly that is still reflected in today’s global society, with progress being made. Disability is not a joke nor is it something that should be seen as tokenistic.
Always an Advocate is a worthy read and I would encourage that it is available in equality, diversity and inclusion sectors as well as policy makers and governance. I am very pleased that I have read this book in its entirety and look forward to reading previous and future books by Angela.
~ Placida (September 1, 2021)
It’s amazing what just one person can accomplish! As you read this book, you will be inspired by Angela’s passion as an advocate! Her desire for equality and accessibility for people with disabilities will compel you to become an advocate as well. From banning dwarf tossing to advocating for students with disabilities and everything in between, Angela fights for the “underdog” and never gives up until she achieves results. Angela’s book is a testament of her strong faith and love of God and others. This is a must-read for the world today!
~ Jane (September 15, 2021)
This book inspires you to “Be the change you want to see in the world!”
Before reading “Always an Advocate,” I could never have imagined the heights this author has reached in effecting real change in our world. I was immediately drawn in by the sheer grit, determination, perseverance, pluck, and faith of Angela Van Etten, who could not be deterred from making a difference where needed. Her life’s work of advocacy speaks volumes for her claim that the size of a task makes no difference. Utilizing her talents for understanding and interpreting law, writing, and speaking, she collaborated on crucial changes we all recognize within our society—making voting machines, gas pumps, elevators, ATMs, emergency shelters, and mass transit accessible to people with dwarfism and other disabilities. When it seemed impossible to deter a rising global trend in dwarf tossing, she took an effective stand against it, appearing on talk shows and working to codify a ban on it into law in two states. Her book brims with stories and examples of times she’s defended the personhood and dignity of those with dwarfism and others, including children with disabilities in the school system in need of Individual Education Plans. “Always an Advocate” will encourage anyone interested in effecting positive change for a good cause. Wish I’d read it years ago!
~ Davie 44 (September 29, 2021)
I loved reading this book! Angela writes as if she were a close friend sharing her story over a cup of tea—infusing humor and anecdotes and making easily relatable a narrative that few would even think to ask about. Always an Advocate doesn’t sugar coat the work needed in accomplishing great change, or the turmoil of politics that can exist even within forward-thinking organizations, but it does show us that it is possible. As a woman, as a wife, as someone who finds strength in scripture, as someone who finds it impossible to sit idly by when disparities and injustices are brought to my attention, Angela’s work speaks to me like few books have. I am left inspired and hopeful about the role I may play in making this world even a little bit better for my actions, and grateful for the lessons and wisdom she openly shares from her life-long journey in advocacy.
~ Juliana (September 24, 2021)
In Angela Van Etten’s third incredibly detailed and thoughtful book chronicling dwarf history that she has not only lived through but has had personal impact on, she details many of the recent public square off’s between little people and the uneducated narrowminded, ableist world. You need to read this book and take a seat inside the body of a little person to begin to understand the implications that real world decisions in our society have on the very people that it affects. Angela also brings us into rooms of resistance against political and legislative changes that if passed, would put little people in harm’s way in a physical sense on a daily basis. What happens when a Florida Representative tries to pit the right to work against the right to feel safe in society? Angela does a magnificent job bringing you into this story as well as many others. It’s unique, unheard, and untold in such a collaborative form. Must read!
~ Clinton (September 24, 2021)
Angela has provided insight into advocacy for people with differences in this her 3rd easy to read book. What it takes to make change happen when you know that change is RIGHT! Angela relays personal experiences from her years of advocacy and lets you see through her eyes what advocacy really means. The first chapters provide a very interesting look into the history and the ups and downs of Little People of America and how by holding on to values of respect, integrity, accountability and inclusiveness a difference can be made. As she moves into other chapters one sees how these values hold as we read about Dwarf Tossing and the advocacy involved to have it banned. The 3rd section of her book goes into advocacy for equal access. From riding buses and taxis with wheelchairs to reaching ATM and elevator buttons and on to gas pumps, public restrooms, voting machines and Fair Housing Access all needing to have equal access by all. So many things that are not thought about by those who are not different. Angela tells the story of advocating for these changes and more. This is a great book to read and to help us see the importance of advocacy when one knows something is right and to step up and advocate.
~ Judy (September 17, 2021)
Do what is right. In Always An Advocate Angela Van Etten chronicles a long journey replete with examples of the passion and the cost to those who choose to do what is right. Angela’s many examples of her pursuit to realize remedies by agencies, boards, and governments demonstrate that achieving success in getting decisions-makers to correct problems or remove barriers is rarely easy, never automatic, and seldom a solo effort, however she shows all of us that it is do-able.
Most of us will not face the giants that Angela Van Etten tackled, but we do encounter wrongs that need to be righted, misinformation that should be corrected, and demeaning social practices that ought to be opposed. In short we need to do what is right. Always An Advocate shows us the way.
~ Lee (July 29, 2021)
As a fan of Dwarfs Don’t Live In Doll Houses, I was pleased to get a copy of Always an Advocate by activist and lawyer Angela Van Etten. As always Angela provides an engaging read, which is based on her excellent knowledge as a lawyer and activist. As a person with dwarfism, Angela provides a firsthand account of the difficulties disabled people experience on a daily basis.
The book is split into three parts. The first part focuses on Angela’s work as a member of Little People of America. Whilst quite descriptive, I do think it is a valuable and informative read for any person who is a member of an organization for disabled people, especially associations for people with dwarfism. It documents the hard work and numerous struggles experienced by Angela and her husband Robert.
For me, the most thought provoking and interesting is part two, the rise and fall of dwarf tossing. Angela documents her tireless efforts to ban the sport in numerous US states. In the part, Angela provides an easy read legal debate regarding the so-called form of entertainment. It is interesting to see how Angela, and others, had to find persuasive arguments to ban something that should never exist in the first place.
The last part focuses on the hard fight for equal access. Similar to the previous section, Angela draws on her own experiences to demonstrate the difficulties in gaining equal access for disabled people. These difficulties are not only due to how the built environment has been constructed, but also due to problematic attitudes from people such as transportation staff. Drawing on her own personal experiences, alongside Robert, Angela demonstrates that the fight for equality for disabled people is not easy.
This book makes a valuable contribution to the work of disabled activists. It is a thought provoking book that should challenge several problematic assumptions, such as the belief that people with dwarfism are figures of fun or that disabled people have full access to the built environment. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in disability advocacy, especially people with dwarfism who need to fight for equality.
~Erin (September 15, 2021)