Author: Angela Van Etten

Categories
Character

Give Generously

Give Tuesday color stacked
Giving Tuesday

On GivingTuesday—November 28, 2023—the whole world will come together to give back through acts of kindness, gifts of voice, time, talent, or treasure.

Last year’s tenth anniversary of this global phenomenon, saw an estimated 37 million Americans donate over three billion dollars in only 24 hours! So this year, let’s join the movement to see what we all can accomplish. The global hardships are gigantic and gruesome, but together we can make a difference.

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Every act of generosity counts and

everyone has something to give.

If your postal service and email boxes are anything like mine, they’re stuffed with solicitations from charities. So many that it gets annoying, especially when it’s from a charity we’ve never even heard of. But rather than getting irritated, I sort through the mail to look for those charities I approve and support. Rather than automatically tossing or deleting, I stack the snail mail and move emails to a donation folder for future consideration.

Although I haven’t always donated on GivingTuesday, it’s beneficial to do so since the concerted effort of millions encourages more giving on this day and throughout the year. Also I’ll time a gift to my chosen charity if they have notified me of a matching grant for every dollar given.

Of course, there are so many things we can give that are not calculated in dollars: food to a pantry, blood to a bank, essentials to a homeless shelter, and kindness to others. Among the 50 kindness gestures suggested by GivingTuesday are the following:

  1. Bring popsicles to a park on a hot day.
  2. Clean out your closet and donate some items.
  3. Ask for donations instead of birthday gifts.
  4. Cheer up a friend in need of cheering up.
  5. Compliment five people.
  6. Tell someone why they are important to you.
  7. Let someone go ahead of you in line.
  8. Send three cheerful postcards to people who won’t be expecting it.
  9. Forgive someone.
  10. Include someone with a disability in your plans.
  11. Call someone and talk instead of texting.
  12. Refresh a delivery person with a snack or beverage.
  13. Put kind notes inside some library books.
  14. Smile at everyone you see.
  15. Pay it forward.
  16. Give voice to your favorite cause on social media.

You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus:
It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Acts 20:35 (New Living Translation)

And for the greatest gift of all, remember:

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
1 John 5:11 (New American Standard Bible)

Many thanks to the https://givingtuesday.org website for informing this post and providing motivation for joining the movement.

And for details on my blog and dwarfism memoir trilogy, go to https://angelamuirvanetten.com.

Image credit: RDNE Stock project, https://www.pexels.com/photo/an-elderly-mab-receiving-a-cup-of-drink-from-a-volunteer-6646992/

Categories
Celebrations

Give Thanks

Give Thanks

As thanksgiving approaches guest lists and menus are the typical focus. But how much thought do we give to what we are thankful for? When browsing through my 2023 engagement calendar, I was struck by the domination of difficult scenarios for which gratitude did not come to mind. But a closer look pushed me into giving thanks for both the times of celebration and consternation.

Medical issues have touched every aspect of our lives, even the good things. For example, we were delighted to attend the wedding of Robert’s niece Brittany and her husband Stephen.

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But my inability to drive after dark meant we had to stay overnight. The motel we booked had a tall bed that Robert couldn’t climb into and lowering it was not feasible. However, the aggravation turned into appreciation when a shorter rollaway bed was located. The bonus was congregating with relatives at the breakfast bar the next morning.

My 70th birthday trip to Australia would have been impossible without Robert’s Florida family—Susan, Brittany, and Lyn & Bill—each taking a turn to stay with him for a week. Even though my three-week excursion was marred by being in ICU with COVID, I’m deeply indebted to them for allowing me to spend time with my family and friends in Sydney.

At home, Robert’s propensity for falling out of bed was ameliorated with lowering and relocating the bed. We were grateful when Gary and Kathryn helped us rearrange the furniture. But none of this prevented Robert from landing on the floor. Several 911 calls for help to pick him up were needed when he couldn’t get up after sliding off the bed. But it was a pleasant surprise to learn that Fire Rescue calls are free unless they take you to the hospital in an ambulance. Just as well, because on October 28 we called them to the house twice in one day.

Being hospitalized for eight days in October was nothing to be pleased about especially since it involved Robert’s blood pressure, breathing, kidney, and infections in the sinuses, bladder, and lungs (pneumonia). Nonetheless we were thankful Robert was classified as a progressive care patient attended by ICU nurses, numerous specialists, and therapists. We were glad when the hospital discharge plan continued many of these services at home.

I’m happy that earlier in the year we didn’t know so many medical interventions were on the horizon. This allowed me to continue marketing my dwarfism memoir trilogy with weekly blog posts, a workshop at the LPA District 4 Spring regional in Palm Beach Gardens, contribute a chapter to an anthology on “Dwarfism Arts and Advocacy: Creating Our Own Positive Identity,” and participate on an LPA advocacy panel on Understanding the Laws.

It was a joy to visit with so many friends from New Zealand—two in Stuart and two in Sydney—dating back to our days in kindergarten, middle school, and university. We were also tickled that two Aussie baby nieces adorned us as a great aunt and uncle.

In Everything Give Thanks
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

            What are you thankful for?

Related Angela Muir Van Etten blog posts are listed below:

Categories
Disability Rights

Van Accessible Parking Predicament

Van access aisle

Hugo—our wheelchair accessible van—has removed the physical stress of boarding Robert and our two scooters into our vehicle. It has also added a new challenge—finding van accessible parking. The trouble arises because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) only requires one out of every six accessible parking spaces to be van accessible i.e. to provide an adjacent access aisle wide enough for a

 

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side ramp to be deployed. The ADA allows two van accessible parking spaces to share a common access aisle but, when the access aisle is on the side of the van opposite to the ramp, precision driving is needed to reverse into the space.

As a result, we need to allow more time when planning an outing. For one thing we might need to drive around the parking lot waiting for and praying that a van accessible space opens up. Parking in a regular accessible space doesn’t solve the problem because unless we can put down the ramp we can’t exit or reenter the van. So with extra time here’s how we have handled various parking predicaments.

In one large parking lot, we frequently find a van accessible space in the parking lane furthest away from the entrance, but then we need extra time for Robert to scooter into the building at a speed slow enough for me to walk beside him. In another large parking lot with no far away van accessible spaces, we have straddled two regular spaces thereby forcing neighboring vehicles to park in the next space over and leave us space to put down the ramp.

Smaller parking lots can be tricky and parking depends on the layout. At one of Robert’s doctor’s offices we have parked in a regular space that borders the driveway. At a dental office, I parked two wheels on the sidewalk to make room for the ramp in the parking space. When visiting Robert’s brother in a rehabilitation facility, I risked getting towed by parking in the driveway and putting the ramp down on the sidewalk.

At an imaging center, I had no choice but to park in a regular spot next to an open space. But when I went inside I asked if they had a red cone I could use to reserve this space. They didn’t, but assured me that if someone parked next to me they’d find the driver and get them to move their car when I was ready to leave. At a durable medical equipment appointment, the manager did ask a driver to move her car so we could deploy the ramp to get back into the van. Of course, asking someone to move their vehicle is only an option at a venue where it’s possible to find the driver!

Thank you for resisting the temptation to park in an access aisle.

You might also want to read:

 

Categories
Open

Successful Authors Write and Talk

Podcast guest

Writing a book is not finished when you add the last word to the last chapter. Nope, you still need to respond to editor comments and choose a traditional or independent (indie) publishing path. And then there’s the massive undertaking of getting people to read the book. I say massive because each year three to four million new book titles publish and in today’s market the average book sells less than 300 print copies in the United States over its lifetime!

So how do authors get their books to stand out above the stack? It’s not enough to produce a well written manuscript lauded with top-notch reviews. Although quality

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writing is still an important ingredient for success, it doesn’t go very far without being paired with excellent marketing. And therein lies the rub. Publishers have shifted most book marketing to authors.

In order to sell my dwarfism memoir trilogy, I needed to be proficient in both writing and marketing. For me, it was a case of on-the-job training. I immersed myself in articles and webinars on publishing and greatly benefited from coaching by Ava Pennington, an author and teacher at writers’ conferences and faith-based and general market events.

As a result, my marketing strategy included: creating book launch teams; developing an author website—“a voice for people with dwarfism & disability,” https://angelamuirvanetten.com; writing a weekly blog post; being active on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest; presenting workshops at LPA national and district conferences; and contributing articles and interviews to magazines and websites.

I also prepared media kits for each book with the goal of attracting podcast, radio or TV interviews; all of which involve talking. The listing of disability focused podcasts on which I have been featured are on my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/media/ and listed below:

  • Coach Ang and Samyuktha. “Author Spotlight: A Champion for Change,” Season 3, Episode 2. A Little Perspective. October 29, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g69a1m3ktEc
  • “How to Advocate for People with Disability and Dwarfism,” Season 4, Episode 27. Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast – November 10, 2022.
  • Betsy Fasbinder. “Angela Muir Van Etten: Always an Advocate.” The Morning Glory Project Podcast – January 19, 2022.
  • “Always an Advocate,” Episode 32. Florida Disability Rights, You First Podcast – November 18, 2021.
  • “Marriage Story: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith,” Season 2, Episode 37. Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast – October 22, 2020.
  • “A Voice for People with Dwarfism and Disability,” Season 2, Episode 36. Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast – October 15, 2020.

Please contact me at angela@angelamuirvanetten.com if you’d like to schedule an interview, speaking engagement, or guest blog post.

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Categories
Disability Rights

Calling Disabled Candidates to Help America Vote

I voted
Photo by Parker Johnson on Unsplash

Debates, fundraising, polling, and campaigning confirm that America is full swing into election season. And there’s another year before the general election on November 5, 2024! Who knows what controversies will arise between now and then.

The 2000 presidential election controversy instigated passage of the Help America Vote Act on October 29, 2002. The law funded replacement of outmoded voting equipment and created the Election Assistance Commission.

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Under a lesser known provision, States and local governments can receive payments to make polling places accessible to individuals with disabilities and train election officials, poll workers, and volunteers on how best to promote access and participation of people with disabilities in federal elections. (Discussed in Chapter 17 of my book, Always an Advocate, https://angelamuirvanetten.com/always-an-advocate/.)

But none of these reforms winnow the field to the candidate that will truly represent the interests of their constituency. Even though candidates bend over backwards to identify with potential voters by sharing details of their family, education, employment, gender, and race, how many candidates identify with disability? Very few. So let’s add another help to encourage people with disabilities to vote—more candidates with disability lived experience.

This post shares details of four people with dwarfism who serve as candidate role models.

Lee Kitchens—a dwarf with Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia—was a two-term alderman and five-term mayor of Ransom Canyon, Texas where City Hall is situated on 24 Lee Kitchens Drive! His Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering took him to a distinguished career with Texas Instruments and teaching at Texas Tech University. He twice served as Little People of America President and co-founded the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.

Joe Roach—a dwarf with Achondroplasia—a three-term Houston city councilor, was the first dwarf elected to office in a major American city. Prior to his election, Joe was an acclaimed prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. He wanted to be known as a good council member or a bad council member not as a “Republican midget,” as an affirmative action program manager called him; she was rebuked with a 3-day suspension without pay.

Tony Soares—a dwarf with Achondroplasia—served on the Hoboken, New Jersey, City Council for eight years. He was elected while working as an advertising executive and defeated an opponent who didn’t take him seriously. He founded and led Hoboken’s Reform movement and won respect for his persuasiveness. After stepping aside from a mayoral race, one supporter later imagined Hoboken with Mayor Soares leading it instead of the “unqualified idiots” who served after him.

James Lusted—a 43-inch dwarf with Diastrophic Dysplasia—is the first dwarf councilor elected in the United Kingdom. He represents Rhos-on-Sea, on the Conwy County Borough Council in North Wales. This actor and TV presenter is a member of the Dwarf Sports Association and carried the Olympic torch through his hometown. His appointment as the Leader’s Disability Champion gives him a nationwide platform to encourage the participation of people with disabilities in public life.

How about you? Are you brave enough to throw your hat in the ring?

Categories
Awareness

International Dwarfism Awareness Day

Billy Barty & friends

Every year since 2012, International Dwarfism Awareness Day celebrates little people on October 25th, the birthday of Billy Barty, the founder of Little People of America (LPA). My contribution to this day is to highlight some tweets and articles that have been published through the years.

As you celebrate in 2023, spread awareness on social media with #DwarfismAwarenessDay and #DwarfPride.

TWEETS

Little People of America:

Our 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐃𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭-𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭 is available now! Show off your LP pride and that #LPAisLOVE! Orders can be placed at https://bit.ly/3Qtj3DM. August 5, 2023.

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The National Advisory Board:

  1. Dwarfism Awareness Month, serves as an invaluable opportunity to generate awareness: dispelling myths, and stereotypes while working to build a greater understanding and acceptance of people with dwarfism. October 16, 2023.
  2. . . . “We are people with all the hopes, dreams, passions, and faults of everyone else,” LPA Founder, Billy Barty. October 12, 2023.

Naffe Tusbola Foundation:

People with dwarfism still face barriers that limit their choices & opportunities TODAY! Please RT to stand in solidarity with Ugandan LPs who are socially & economically excluded, taunted & treated as lesser than others. October 25, 2022.

Danielle Marie Webb:

We must challenge the everyday experiences of ignorance, discrimination and hate. And celebrate the phenomenal contribution to our communities. October 25, 2022.

Gareth Mason:

Today people with Dwarfism still face social and physical barriers that stand in the way of choices and opportunities, this has to change! October 25, 2021.

Angela Muir Van Etten:

LPA Milestones. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/lpa-milestones/ from “Always an Advocate,” Part I, Volunteer Leadership Challenges, chapters 1 & 2, available on Amazon US and UK. October 25, 2021.

Jennifer Arnold, MD:

. . . Join our family in celebrating little people – unite in overcoming the barriers, discrimination, & misconceptions! October 25, 2020.

Lawrence Villepto

LES preschool teachers wore green in support of Nat’l Dwarfism Awareness Day & Month, and read “Not too big … not too small … just right for me,” designed to educate students about dwarfism. October 27, 2020.

Steph @HelloLittleLady BSc (Hons) MA

. . . In this thread, I wanted to share our perspectives of being a Dwarf through participants’ t/photos from the #YoureJustLittle exhibition. 1/ October 25, 2019.

How am I celebrating #DwarfismAwarenessDay? With my family, having an ordinary day, getting on with life, changing the world one photograph (and podcast) at a time. Please RT the first post and show the world our perspectives! Thanks! #DisabilityArts End/ October 25, 2019.

Warwick Davis two short films produced for @LPUKOnline (October 25, 2018):

  1. . . . about ‘anti-social photography’. . .
  2. . . . about using a child’s natural curiosity to teach them about dwarfism.

Cara Reedy:

It’s Dwarfism Awareness Day and in honor of that I am launching my new podcast. Infamously Short Shorts-Tales of The Average Heighted Sideshow. October 25, 2018.

Samantha Trubyk:

Happy Dwarfism Awareness Day! I’m wearing my green and excited to start the day! October 25, 2017.

ARTICLE LINKS:

Joe Pagonakis. “Parma man with a tall spirit shares his story during Dwarfism Awareness Month.” October 17, 2023. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/parma-man-with-a-tall-spirit-shares-his-story-during-dwarfism-awareness-month

Erin Pritchard. “Why We Need to Put a Different Kind of Spotlight on Dwarfism.” October 2, 2023. The Mighty. https://themighty.com/topic/dwarfism/addressing-stereotypes-dwarfism-awareness-month/

Angela Muir Van Etten. “Dwarfism Sensitivity & Awareness.” Blog post. October 24, 2022. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/dwarfism-sensitivity–awareness/

Nick Sorensen. “Dwarfism Awareness Month.” First at 4, Erie News Now. https://www.erienewsnow.com/clip/15426993/dwarfism-awareness-month?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_ErieNewsNow

Sallee Ann Harrison. “This is America: How my son taught me to embrace dwarfism.” USA TODAY. October 21, 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/10/21/dwarfism-awareness-month-embracing-dwarfism-with-son/10544447002/

Angela Muir Van Etten. “Dwarf Tossing Throwback.” Blog post. March 8, 2021. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/dwarf-tossing-throwback/

Dwarfism Awareness Month with LPA. 2020. https://www.lpaonline.org/assets/documents/Dwarfism%20Awareness%20Presentation.pdf

Michelle Kraus. “Dwarfism Awareness Month: A Bit of LPA’s History.” [maybe 2020]. https://vimeo.com/297637342/33db98941e

Stephanie Rodriguez. “Mom shares infant daughter’s story for Dwarfism Awareness Day.” Oct 23, 2020 (Updated Aug 24, 2022). https://www.wqow.com/news/daybreak/mom-shares-infant-daughter-s-story-for-dwarfism-awareness-day/article_eee02390-6ae4-5707-8eff-f012d672cbcb.html

Jade Hayden. “Sinéad Burke and toy company team up to create little person doll for World Dwarfism Awareness Day.” Life. October 26, 2019. https://her.ie/life/sinead-burke-toy-company-team-create-little-person-doll-world-dwarfism-awareness-day-486784

Carly Kutner. “Dwarfism Awareness Month: A Recap.” The Joy of Mira blog. October 26, 2017. https://www.thejoyofmira.com/blog/2017/10/26/dwarfism-awareness-month-a-recap

“Federal Way photographer tells family’s story in Dwarfism Awareness Month photo essay.” October 20, 2015. https://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/federal-way-photographer-tells-familys-story-in-dwarfism-awareness-month-photo-essay/

To dig deeper, go to Angela Muir Van Etten’s dwarfism book trilogy, https://angelamuirvanetten.com/books/

Categories
Work

Breaking Free From Lawyer Stereotypes

Dwarfs Don't Live

In observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month this post presents highlights of my work experience as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand excerpted from Chapter 3, At The Bar, in Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses, book I in my dwarfism trilogy, https://angelamuirvanetten.com/dwarfs-dont-live-in-doll-houses/

My first meeting with a client shattered stereotypes people had of how lawyers should look. In a crowded court foyer people watched me and whispered among themselves, “Is she really a lawyer?” In the office, parents’ faces brightened with embarrassment, when their curious child crawled under my desk and exclaimed in the midst of the meeting, “Mummy her feet don’t touch the floor.”

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If anything, my ability to break free from the lawyer stereotype was helpful. My distinctive appearance made it easy for clients to identify and find me. Some people came into my office and before agreeing to make an appointment asked the secretary,  “Is this the office of ‘the little lady lawyer’? and gestured with their hand at waist level to make absolutely sure their appointment was with me.

In court appearances, I needed to catch the Judge’s attention when my client’s case was called. In only my second court appearance, I nervously stood to indicate that I represented the defendant, but the Judge didn’t see me (my head was only level with the shoulders of other lawyers seated at the bar). I made the mistake of waiting for my client to make his way to the dock before speaking. The Judge erroneously concluded that my client was unrepresented and assigned my case to a public defense legal aid lawyer. I was mortified.

Later, people suggested that I should have stood on a chair, but I never stood on a chair to get attention before and I wasn’t about to begin in a courtroom. Instead I moved away from the lawyer’s table, stood in the aisle in the Judge’s line of sight, and shouted “May it please your Honor, I represent the defendant.” The Judge looked up quite startled, muttered an apology, and asked the clerk to call my client again.

I found that lawyers had just as many inhibitions in their dealings with me as other people. However, lawyers that discriminated were clearly disadvantaged. In discounting me as a serious opponent, I defeated their every unprepared argument.

Being a dwarf and a member of the “smallest minority” occasionally improved my effectiveness with clients. Many were themselves in minority groups being immigrants, alcoholics, solo parents or criminals. The fact that I belonged to a different minority was irrelevant. There was immediate empathy and recognition that we both had obstacles to face and overcome.

Often in my professional capacity, I advised people of the best approach to take in a situation. Many accepted my advice, because they realized I knew what it meant to face and overcome obstacles. I was living proof that you can make it even when the going is tough. After we talked, people were encouraged to attempt to put the pieces of their lives back together.

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Categories
Celebrations

Rehab Act Reaches 50

Rehab Act 50 logo

Turning 50 is a time to look back with pride and look forward with hope.

The 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 stands strong as the first civil rights legislation protecting people with disabilities from discrimination by federal agencies, federal contractors, or programs receiving federal funds.

Passage of the Rehab Act and promulgation of implementing regulations even engenders pride. The legislation survived two vetoes before it was signed by President Richard M. Nixon on September 26, 1973. And signing of section 504 regulations in 1977 during the Carter Administration took government building sit-ins of 150 disabled activists and allies. A national disability movement was launched culminating in passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 broadening civil rights protections to the private sector.

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The scope and influence of the Rehab Act then and now is huge:

  • Section 501 established a federal government interagency committee on handicapped employees (now known as the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities).
  • Section 502 established the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) tasked with ensuring access to federal buildings and facilities. Later amendments strengthened requirements for access to (1) electronic and information technology in the Federal sector (Section 508) and (2) medical diagnostic equipment (section 510).
  • Section 503 prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment against individuals with disabilities and requires employers to take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, provide benefits, train, and any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance at the U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing section 503.
  • Section 504 prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity operated by recipients of federal funds. The U.S. Justice Department coordinates section 504’s consistent and effective implementation with over 35 federal agencies.

And as for looking forward with hope, consider commenting—on or before November 13, 2023—on the proposed rule by the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Service. Among other things, the rule covers accessible medical equipment, such as exam tables and scales; medical treatment decisions; value assessment, web and mobile accessibility; and community integration.

“These new regulations could provide a critical framework for forcing medical providers to provide more accessible, equitable healthcare. That’s why it’s so important that you take the time to comment. Share your personal experiences as a wheelchair user and how lack of accessibility affects your medical care. It is critically important to support eliminating medical disparities that have complicated and shortened our lives and blocked us from having equal health care for the past 50 years … and into the future.”

Tim Gilmer, editor of New Mobility magazine.

To dig deeper go to:

Categories
FAQs

How Tall Are You?

Height requirement

Here’s another Frequently Asked Question addressed to little people. We’re typically willing to answer this simple question that doesn’t probe the psyche or demand intimate details. But the answer may trigger a fact check.

If you asked me today how tall I am, my answer would be 40 inches (1.02 meters or 102 cm). But anyone who read the first book in my memoir trilogy, Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses (1988), might remember my reported height as 42 inches (1.07 meters or 107 cm). So what’s with the discrepancy? It’s not a case of exaggeration; both are correct.

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In the 35 years between now and then, I lost two inches—height I can’t afford to lose by the way! Age is the culprit for this loss from increased curvature in my spine and shrinkage in the discs that cushion the vertebrae. In the 16 years between my marriage to Robert and his hip replacement surgery, he gained an inch (2.54 cm). I married him for richer or poorer, better or worse, but who knew it would be for shorter or taller?

Some people find it hard to believe someone could be so short. Take, for example, the night a Florida traffic cop pulled Robert over for speeding. Robert willingly turned over his driver’s license to the officer, but was puzzled when he shined his flashlight backwards and forwards between him and the license. Then the officer asked Robert, “how tall are you?” When he said, “three-feet-six,” the officer retorted, “that’s not what it says here.” And the officer was right. The license recorded Robert’s height as six-feet-three! Apparently, a driver’s license bureau clerk didn’t believe a driver could be three-feet-six and flipped the numbers.

A clerk at the New Zealand (NZ) Department of Internal Affairs (comparable to the United States State Department) had the same problem. I applied for a passport and showed my height as 1.08 meters. The clerk perceived an error and called to query the height. At first, I agreed there might be a mistake. (It was about the time of NZ’s conversion to metrics and I wasn’t confident my conversion was accurate.) She said, “1.08 meters means you are only three-feet-six inches tall?” I replied, “Oh yes, I did do it right.” She decided she had done it all wrong by questioning my calculation.

Height questions are legitimate when lining up for amusement park rides. In this case, minimum height requirements for riders are imposed for safety reasons. For example, you must be tall enough for the shoulder harness to securely lock you in place. If you’re too short you could be thrown right off the ride or fall out when it’s upside down. Or, in the case of Space Mountain at Disney’s Magic Kingdom when safety standards weren’t enforced, I thought my head was going to fall off. My neck, my spine, and falling two inches short of the height requirement screamed out that this ride was hazardous to my health.

So this dwarfism awareness month, what’s your experience with height questions?

For more of my writings, go to https://angelamuirvanetten.com where you can find retail links to my dwarfism memoir trilogy and subscribe to my weekly blog on dwarfism and disability guided by faith and justice.

Categories
Disability Rights

Is Dwarfism a Disability Under the ADAAA?

Reserved 4 disabled

Many little people don’t consider themselves “disabled,” because they are independent and productive citizens. In contrast, others assume their dwarfism automatically qualifies them as having a protected disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In either case, disability self-perception is not determinative. Rather, it’s a case of whether the individual meets the disability criteria defined in this landmark civil rights legislation.

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On September 25, 2008, President George W. Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) 18 years after his father, President George H. W. Bush, signed the ADA. The amendment was necessary because the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) perception of disability under the ADA was too narrow. The ADAAA overrides past SCOTUS interpretations decreeing that the disability definition should be construed broadly to make it easier for individuals to establish they have a protected disability.

So what is the criteria for showing that dwarfism is covered under the ADAAA? A “yes” answer to any one of the following three questions means you’re protected.

  • Do you have an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities?
  • Do you have a record of such an impairment?
  • Are you regarded as having an impairment even though you don’t?

It’s not about a diagnosis, but rather whether an impairment substantially limits the ability of an individual to perform a major life activity as compared to most people in the general population. This requires an individualized assessment.

The ADAAA (42 U.S.C. § 12102) and regulations of the United States Department of Justice (28 C.F.R. §§35.108, 36.105) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC, 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2) spell out how the disability definition should be construed. Non exhaustive lists define “physical or mental impairment,” “substantially limits,” and “major life activities.” As a little person with Larsen’s Syndrome I can pick pertinent traits from these lists to demonstrate my disability under the ADAAA. For instance, my physiological disorder (1) affects my musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cardiovascular body systems; (2) substantially limits my major life activities of walking, sleeping, standing, reaching, lifting, bending, breathing; and (3) affects normal cell growth. People with dwarfism and other disabilities can also pick from these lists to show how they meet the ADAAA disability definition.

Thankfully many people with dwarfism have qualified for ADAAA protection. Here are a few examples:

  • An applicant was compensated $20,000 after being denied a purchasing manager position because he didn’t have a driver’s license even though having a license was not an essential job function. United States vs. York County, South Carolina (2019).
  • A nine year old boy received compensatory damages from a youth wrestling league that failed to modify their policy to allow him to “play down” one age division so he could compete with wrestlers closer to his weight and size. B.K. vs. Pikes Peak Wrestling League (2016). 
  • Starbucks agreed to pay $75,000 to a trainee after denying a reasonable accommodation during training and then refusing to hire her (2012).

So let’s reframe the question. Are YOU disabled under the ADAAA? Check the regulations (cited above) to find out.

You may also want to read other ADA blog posts by Angela Muir Van Etten:

Employment note:

Under its affirmative action rules, the EEOC treats dwarfism as a targeted disability because dwarfs face significant barriers to employment, above and beyond the barriers faced by people with the broader range of disabilities, see “Questions & Answers: The EEOC’s Final Rule on Affirmative Action for People with Disabilities in Federal Employment.” January 3, 2017. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/questions-answers-eeocs-final-rule-affirmative-action-people-disabilities-federal