Role models in the dwarfism community: Mia Ives-Rublee
It’s been a little while but we’re back with a fantastic new Role Model in the Dwarfism Community interview! This time, we had the privilege of speaking with Mia Ives-Rublee, a civil rights activist. Check out what she had to say. Read More
Role models in the dwarfism community: Vilissa Thompson
We’re back – with yet another great installment in our series of interviews with role models from the dwarfism community. This time we spoke to Vilissa Thompson – social worker, writer, and self-confessed “badass”. Check out what she had to say.Read More
NEW EVENT: Young People’s Weekend – 23-25 March 2018
Our popular Young People’s Weekend returns! Last year’s event was wonderful! For two days young people in our community came together to learn new skills (including survival skills), rekindle friendships, and boost their self-confidence. We’re hoping to repeat that success this year.Read More
Role models in the dwarfism community: Dr Debra Keenahan
Happy New Year! We’re back with a new installment in our series of interviews with role models in dwarfism communities. We spoke to artist and academic, Dr Debra Keenahan.Read More
Dwarfism, gaming, and the ‘butterfly-effect’ – a blog by Jacob Gould
My name is Jacob. I always introduce myself as a twenty-something software developer, gamer; who has a Christmas cracker sense of humour; a slight affinity for caffeine; and who just happens to have Achondroplasia.
I saw the RGA was running the #SpreadTheWord campaign – asking libraries and schools to stock books that show a positive image of dwarfism. I wanted to take part and contacted my old primary school to see if they’d welcome the books into their library. The current generation there would not have grown up with any real-life representation of dwarfism. They accepted my request and wanted me to revisit the school to deliver a presentation.Read More
Mega Weekend 2017 (dwarfism convention)
Wowzers! We’ll be hosting our annual Mega Weekend event between October 26th and 29th 2017 at the Woodland Grange hotel – of which we have exclusive use – in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
Three full days in which people with dwarfism and their families can attend a range of interactive workshops, informative talks, and fun activities, including:Read More
Dwarfism: what a Lego figure taught me about power
“You’re attention-seeking!”, “these characters are fictitious!”, “they’ve existed for years!”. These were some of the charges levelled at us this summer when we spoke out about an ‘Evil Dwarf’ collectors card, based on the popular LEGO figures. Here I must express an interest: I am the charity’s Vice-Chair and have dwarfism myself. From that position I feel it’s important I address these criticisms – not because I’m ‘sensitive’ or ‘a snowflake’, but because they provide a valuable lesson in power.Read More
RGA UK calls on LEGO to help combat dwarfism stereotypes
We’ve learned LEGO has a popular ‘Evil Dwarf’ toy for children. So we’re urging them to produce figures with dwarfism that are positive, realistic, and don’t reinforce damaging stereotypes.Read More
RGA UK and ground-breaking children’s authors urge libraries to help combat dwarfism stereotypes
School and public libraries can help combat prejudice by promoting positive portrayals of people with dwarfism, according to the new ‘Spread The Word’ campaign launched today by leading dwarfism charity, RGA UK.
The charity – which campaigns to ensure people with dwarfism have the same opportunities as everyone else – has teamed up with two ground-breaking authors to encourage school and public libraries to stock children’s books showing dwarfism in a positive and realistic light.
Supporters are encouraged to contact their public or school library to request they stock ‘Strong and Mighty Max’ by Kristina Gray and ‘We Are Giants’ by Amber Lee Dodd, as well as ‘I can’t not never be very tall’ by Susan Hatton.
Template emails and letters to send to libraries – as well as Tweets, and Facebook posts – are available from the RGA UK website. Click here.
The aim of ‘Spread The Word’ is to promote more positive and accurate depictions of people with dwarfism who are otherwise often widely mischaracterised as people from fairy tales, myths, and fantasy stories.
RGA UK believes such misrepresentations can perpetuate stereotypes, prejudice, and misconceptions among children at a young age.
Books such as these help to introduce children to dwarfism, disability, and difference in a positive and realistic light.
Both authors have some availability to visit libraries and schools and talk to children about their books.
Chair of RGA UK, Gillian Martin, said: “There is an urgent need to address depictions of dwarfism, in our media and popular culture, which too often misrepresent members of our community as people out of myths, fairy tales, and fantasy novels.
“Introducing children to dwarfism and disability – of all sorts – at a young age helps them to become familiar with and accommodate difference and diversity, which we believe should be celebrated and embraced.
“These authors have done wonders to help us achieve this and we are very proud to support their books, which should be in every library across the country.”
Commenting on the campaign, Kristina said: “I am thrilled to be part of the RGA’s campaign to combat negative stereotypes of people with dwarfism. Educating young minds with positive role models is the key to empowering the next generation to value each other’s differences as something to be celebrated and respected.
“For a child who is born with a rare condition there is no greater feeling than picking up a story book and finding out that the main character is just like you.”
Amber Lee Dodd said: “Children’s fiction can often be a powerful medium for positive social change, which is why I’m very honoured that ‘We are Giants’ has been picked by RGA to promote positive representations of dwarfism – especially as ‘We are Giants’ is about never needing to be anything other than who you are.”
‘Strong and Mighty Max’ is aimed at Early Years and Key Stage 1. Max, born with Achondroplasia (a form of dwarfism), explains that Achondroplasia is a ‘big word’ and not a special ‘superpower’; it simply means his bones grow differently. It is a wonderfully illustrated story encouraging discussion about how everyone is born different.
‘We Are Giants’, for readers aged 9+, is written from the view of a young girl who lives with her sister and her mum who has dwarfism. Her deceased father also had dwarfism. When her mum gave birth to two average-sized daughters, people were sceptical about whether she could take care of them. It has been endorsed by best-selling author, Jacqueline Wilson, and reviewed by The Guardian.
It was also nominated for a number of national awards including the 2017 Branford Boase award for most promising children’s debut novel and Longlisted for the 2017 Waterstones’ children’s fiction award.
Template emails, Tweets, and Facebook posts are available from the RGA UK website. Click here.
To find your local library visit https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services or http://www.findmylibrary.co.uk/.
Are there other books that you think positively portrays people with dwarfism? Why not add these to your list and let Team RGA know via office@restrictedgrowth.co.uk.
ENDS
Notes
RGA UK is in no way commercially connected to the authors nor does the charity benefit financially from sales of these books.
We are Giants / Amber Lee DODD / Quercus Children’s Books / ISBN 9781784294212
Strong and Mighty Max / Kristina GRAY / Matador /ISBN 978178589046
I can’t not never be very tall / Susan HATTON / CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform / ISBN 13: 9781499717747
Leave.EU ‘Turf out the dwarf’ campaign ‘disablist’ and ‘disgraceful’, says RGA UK
A leading charity for people with dwarfism has slammed a Leave.EU social media campaign – which showed a photo-shopped image of the House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow MP, as a dwarf about to be thrown by a group of men, with the banner and hashtag ‘Turf Out the Dwarf’ – as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘disablist’.
The image and slogan were tweeted by @Leave.EU, supposedly in response to Mr Bercow’s recent comments about US President Donald Trump speaking in Parliament.
A RGA UK spokesman said: “Whatever your politics, we hope most people would agree that using the term ‘dwarf’ as a slur and celebrating – as this picture does – acts of physical violence against people with dwarfism is disgraceful and disablist.
“This isn’t about ‘political correctness’; it’s about dwarfism still being an acceptable target for prejudice and abuse.
“It’s a sad reminder that we still have far to go, as a society.”
At the time of writing, the Tweet can still be seen on the @Leave.EU twitter feed.