Other People

Dwarfism is considered a disability and needs a cure? I did NOT know this!

'Scientists have come up with a drug, injected once a day, that appears to make children’s bones grow. To many, it’s a wondrous invention that could improve the lives of thousands of people with dwarfism.' (source)

'For individuals with dwarfism due to growth hormone deficiency, treatment with injections of a synthetic version of the hormone may increase final height. In most cases, children receive daily injections for several years until they reach a maximum adult height — often within the average adult range for their family.' (source)

'French researchers fool a dysfunctional gene to stimulate regular bone growth in young mice with dwarfism.' (source)

Is this like the controversy over cochlear implants in us deafies? For Deaf (capital D—as in culturally Deaf ) folks, being born without hearing isn’t a disability.

'Just like any other culture, Deaf people have their own history, heroes, traditions, values, art forms, and most importantly, a rich and expressive language.'
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'...many in the deaf community don't want to be "fixed" to become more like hearing people. In fact, because implanted children usually don't learn ASL, some feel that implants represent a loss for Deaf culture.' (source)

I’m little d deaf. I had hearing until I was 46, I know some ASL (but am nowhere near fluent) and am not involved (beyond a social event here and there) in the Deaf community. So, yeah, I consider myself disabled (no weepy, weepies here—it is what it is). I can’t get a cochlear implant—I have nerve deafness and that don’t fly with the C.I. IF there was a cure for Nf2, if there was a cure for nerve deafness, you can bet your bottom dollar, I’d be all over that shit in a New York mini-minute.

In any case, being a little person, from what I understand, is similar to being a big D Deafie. It’s not a disability—it’s a community who’s just different from other humans. Neither needs to be “fixed.”