This post is in response to the last comment. I appreciate reader’s comments with concern to the blog. It gives me an oppurtunity to clarify or discuss issues that people may have questions or responses. It also provides me with a learning oppurtunity, which I am always game for!! The reason I use the terms “achon kids, achondroplastic, LP (little person), dwarf http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dwarf   ,dwarfism etc, is these are all acceptable terms within the world of dwarfism. It is important to use a “label” when describing our children because there are over 200 different forms of dwarfism know in the medical world. So in blogs, forums and such when posting about our children we must use these labels to identify them from other forms of dwarfism. Each type comes with varying medical issues that does not affect another type of dwarfism.  I would agree with the term of using LP as a final description. Although there is no known definition of this term, as it is used to describe a person with dwarfism. However, the use of “Midget”  is an offensive term as it follows the same line of thought as “Nigger”.

After converations with parents of LP, it has been said the “N” word would not be placed in the same catogory as the “M” word. The “N” word was always meant to be derogotory as the “M” word has taken on a derogotory meaning in recent years. Listed are links to the definitions of these two words.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/midget

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nigger

Although I understand those who are not familiar with our terms may find them offensive or rude, for us it is not. We do know our children are people first. One of the reasons I started this blog was that when Knoah gets older, I wanted the “novelty” of his existence to be lessened and to have people look at him as a person. I am under no belief that the world will some how view him as “normal” or typical. He is not. Knoah was born with a genetic disorder. Physically he will always be viewed as different. Not to mention dwarfism is so rare that it is believed to affect only 300,000 people worldwide (achon) (1.5 million of all type of dwarfism in the US). It is rarer than Down Syndrome, Cleft Palette, Spina Bifida, etc. Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism that is non-lethal.

Using the term “He is a dwarf” is fine, because he is. The word Dwarf simply means as person of short stature who is physically un-proportionate.

The term Midget, although no longer used, refers to an individual who his proportionate physically.

It is unfortunate, however terms and labels will always be used by someone in the world to describe someone or thing they may or may not be familiar with. We will not try to sugar coat or hid to Knoah that these terms are out there and he will eventually be called this someday.

I find it interesting that most people say they want a “normal” life, or a person of average height is normal. I have come to realize there is not a standard of “normal” in this world. What is acceptable or usual for one person, may not be for someone else.

So, basically, my family is fine with the terms we use to describe Knoah’s condition. As are others who are experiencing life with a LP. The world can be a cruel, mean place and if you empower words used as slurs, we as a society will never overcome hatred, bigotry and and the spirit of meanness.