October with LPA: A Month Full of Advocacy, Empowerment, Connection, Learning & (of course) Fun

This October, LPA is bringing you a month packed with activities, conversations, and community - all based on the theme and core value Don't deny. Embrace.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for daily posts filled with trivia, history spotlights, and a few special surprises. And don’t miss the return of Takeover Tuesdays—each week, a different influencer will step in and share their unique perspective, stories, and experiences.

Click to view other resources available for Dwarfism Advocacy Month

Virtual Discussions & Webinars

We’re excited to host a series of thought-provoking virtual discussions on a wide range of topics.  See below the list of webinars scheduled in October.  Descriptions and registration links will be updated in the coming weeks.  Membership matters - please note that unless specified otherwise, all webinar sessions require an active LPA membership to register. Can’t attend live? Don’t worry! Many of the recordings and materials will be posted here after each session so you won’t miss a thing. Note: due to privacy, some recordings will not be recorded and only available in live format.

Thursday, October 1 - 7:00pm EDT/4:00pm PDT - Conexión Latina
A Nuestra Altura: Aceptación, Identidad y Orgullo - En este taller exploraremos las diferentes perspectivas de personas latinas de primera y segunda generación que han crecido con talla baja, mientras enfrentan los desafíos que pueden surgir al navegar entre distintas identidades culturales y la experiencia de vivir con una discapacidad. Reflexionaremos sobre el proceso de aceptación en un espacio seguro de conexión y reflexión que nos permita fortalecer nuestra identidad, autoestima y bienestar mental y emocional. Haga clic AQUÍ para registrarse.

Sunday, October 4 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Freak the Mighty!
Celebrating Dwarfism Advocacy Month, we want to invite you in to learn about the new musical hitting regional theaters "Freak The Mighty". Shepherded by the Tony® Award winning producers of "Come From Away", in 2026, it recently premiered at Cleveland Playhouse and had a second run at Seattle Rep. Freak The Mighty. is a new musical in motion - based on the Young Audience novel of the same title it centers two young teenage boys who become friends, slay dragons, and discover that even the toughest challenges feel lighter when carried together. Some folks might know this book, some might not, We invite you ALL in. Yes, written by an average-height writer, but his story includes a person with Morquio Syndrome. Although not explicitly stated in the book, we know that one of the leads of this story has a rare form of dwarfism. That is where an Access Team came in. Join Sofiya Cheyenne, a creative access consultant on the project as she opens up the conversation with LPs involved in the show (Cornelius Kittrell, Nick Vivar, Jenn Poret) as well as her consulting partner (Talleri McRea). We want to invite the community in to learn from this process as well as ask questions and have input as the show continues to find its way to theaters. Please join us in this impactful and “mighty” conversation around new work that involves people with dwarfism.*If you came to see the show we highly encourage you to join the conversation!  Click HERE to register.

Monday, October 5 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Friends Who Get It: The Lifelong Friendships We Find Through LPA
Some friendships are built over time. Others begin with the simple feeling of meeting someone who just gets it. For many people with dwarfism, LPA friendships become something incredibly special. They are the friends we grow up with, travel with, laugh with, lean on and sometimes go years without seeing only to pick up exactly where we left off. Join us for a candid and probably very entertaining conversation between two sets of longtime best friends who first found each other through LPA as kids and have managed to stay connected through growing up, careers, relationships, families, distance and all the changes that come with life. We’ll talk about how those friendships began, why friendships within the dwarfism community can be so important, what it takes to maintain a friendship over decades, and what it means to have people in your life who understand experiences you don’t always have to explain. In the spirit of this year’s Dwarfism Advocacy Month theme, “Don’t deny. Embrace.”, we’ll also explore how friendship and community can help us embrace who we are and why sometimes one of the greatest gifts LPA gives us is simply each other. Click HERE to register.

Tuesday, October 6 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Getting around: Transportation & Accessibility for Little People
Join us to learn about the ins-and-outs of driving a motor vehicle, using paratransit, and/or public transportation as a Little Person! What are tips/tricks that you can advocate for yourself and use? What are resources that your local government or state government may not advertise? What are your rights as a Little Person living with a disability? Jon Etherton and Kori Allen will give you the toolkit to campaign for yourself and get where you need to go! Click HERE to register.

Wednesday, October 7 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Game On: DAAA’s Road to 2027
Join DAAA for an exciting look at what’s ahead! We’ll be talking all things DAAA—from a little bit of our history and how our organization operates to what’s coming next for dwarf athletics. Get the latest on our plans for the 2027 DAAA National Games in New York and hear what we know so far about the 2027 World Dwarf Games in Australia. We’ll share what athletes and families can expect, how to get involved, and what we’re most excited about as we look toward a big year ahead. Whether you’re a longtime DAAA athlete, new to the organization, or simply curious about getting involved, we’d love to have you join us! Click HERE to register.

Thursday, October 8 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Women's Group - Gather, Gab & Grow
The Women's Group is a virtual community where lived experiences are valued, practical knowledge is exchanged, and meaningful connections are built among women who truly understand the unique joys and challenges of life with dwarfism. In October, we will Gather, Gab, & Grow, there will be an opportunity to share how their life changed when they embraced their dwarfism. It may have been a moment in time or a series of events that led to that realization. Sometimes, women feel dignity and pride in who they are as long as they can remember. It's not about the moment or the realization. It's about the change that occurred that made life easier and that others noticed. The Women's Group is a virtual community where lived experiences are valued, practical knowledge is exchanged, and meaningful connections are built among women who truly understand the unique joys and challenges of life with dwarfism. Click HERE to register.  (This session is open to non-member LPs)

Sunday, October 11 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - The Career Playbook for Parents of Little People
A Dwarfism Advocacy Month webinar from LPA's Employment Committee. This 60-minute panel brings together parents and advocates to share a practical playbook for supporting the career journeys of little people — from education and skill-building to navigating the workplace with confidence. Click HERE to register.

Monday, October 12 - 7:00pm EDT/4:00pm PDT - Skeletal Dysplasias – Everything to Know and the Kitchen Sink
Full description of session to be updated by Oct 1. Click HERE to register.  

Monday, October 12 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Men's Group - A Conversation About Fatherhood
In celebration of Dwarfism Advocacy Month, the LPA Men’s Group is opening October’s meeting to fathers and father-figures of people with dwarfism, average-height and LP alike. Join us as we bring together men who grew up with dwarfism and dads who are raising a child with dwarfism for a guided conversation about fatherhood. What did our own fathers do that helped us embrace who we are? What do we wish was done differently? This year’s DAM theme, “Don’t deny. Embrace,” asks us to view dwarfism not as something to overcome but as part of who we are worth honoring and celebrating. We’ll talk about what that looked like growing up, what it means to raise a child that way now, and what it’s like to parent through a difference you may not have experienced yourself. Whether you’re new to fatherhood, new to dwarfism, or somewhere in between, come join the conversation.  The LPA Men’s Group is normally a closed meeting for male-identifying members of the dwarfism community. As with all Men’s Group meetings, this October session remains confidential and limited to those it’s intended for. Click HERE to register.   (This session is open to non-member LPs)    

Monday, October 12 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Myth Busting Divorce: What We’ve Been Told About Marriage, Relationships & Starting Over
What if some of the things you’ve been told about marriage, divorce, and family simply aren't true? This candid, empowering webinar will challenge common myths that can keep women, especially disabled women, in relationships that no longer work for them, including myths about children, staying married, starting over, and what a healthy relationship should look like. Through anonymous stories, real-world insights, and practical information, we’ll unpack the realities of divorce, recognize red flags and unhealthy relationship dynamics, and explore what it can mean to choose safety, respect, and happiness. Come with your questions, your assumptions, and your “wait…is that actually true?” moments—we’ll bust the myths together. Click HERE to register.  

Tuesday, October 13 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - A Life of Purpose: A Fireside Chat with Tim Muttoo
Join LPA Advocacy Director Samantha Rayburn-Trubyk for a fireside chat with Tim Muttoo. Tim is a Chemcial Engineer, humanitarian, philanthropist, mentor and now author. Born with achondroplasia, Tim has built a life rooted in purpose, service and a belief in what is possible. As a professional engineer and public health professional, he co-founded international clean-water organizations whose work has helped bring safe water and sanitation to more than 100 communities across 12 countries. He has also dedicated significant time to mentoring young people and future engineers, helping the next generation see how their skills can be used to make a difference. Most recently, Tim has added author to that list with the release of Love Can Grow: Knowing Your Worth, Building Real Connection and Finding True Love, sharing personal lessons about self-worth, connection and his own journey to finding love. In this candid conversation, Samantha and Tim will talk about growing up with dwarfism, identity and self-worth, giving back, finding purpose, love and relationships, and what Tim has learned from building a life that has taken him from engineering and humanitarian work around the world to sharing some of his most personal experiences publicly. In the spirit of this year's Dwarfism Advocacy Month theme, “Don't deny. Embrace.”, this conversation is about embracing all the pieces of who we are and what can happen when we use them to create impact far beyond ourselves. Click HERE to register.

Wednesday, October 14 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - AI and Social Media: Friend or Foe?
In this webinar, Marjorie Clayman will outline pros and cons of using AI to implement and plan a social media campaign, especially when building a personal online brand. AI can be helpful when used as a told, but it also can represent obstacles and even potential hazards in the development of an online campaign. This webinar will offer some suggestions on how to use AI and how NOT to use AI in your online marketing. Click HERE to register.

Thursday, October 15 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - The Interview Room - HR Answers Your Questions.
Job interviews can be challenging for anyone but for people with dwarfism, they can come with an added layer of questions. When do I talk about my disability? Should I bring up accommodations? How do I respond when an interviewer seems focused on my height instead of my qualifications? What questions can an employer legally ask? And how do I walk into an interview with confidence when I know bias may exist? This webinar is about showing up as yourself while making sure your skills, experience, and potential remain at the center of the conversation. Join us in The Interview Room for an open and practical conversation about interviewing, disclosure, accommodations, workplace bias, self-advocacy, and navigating those uncomfortable moments that don’t always come with an easy answer. Bring your questions! We’ll talk through real-life scenarios, share practical strategies, and help you feel more prepared to advocate for yourself throughout the hiring process. Click HERE to register.

Sunday, October 18 - 7:00pm EDT/4:00pm PDT - OWLS Online
In celebration of Dwarfism Advocacy Month, the OWLS (Older Wiser Little Seniors), is opening October’s virtual gathering to any LPA Member who is 50 and older with dwarfism. If you would like to share the meeting info with someone who is not a member, please contact Crystal Perry, Membership Director, at [email protected]. October is the perfect month to include people who have not had the opportunity to participate in virtual or in-person LPA events. Join the OWLS as they share their experience assimilating in a world where “pride, diversity, and value-added” were not used to describe little people. We’ve come a long way since 1957!  Also, we’ll take the opportunity to share first LPA experiences or pivotal people who helped OWLS embrace their dwarfism. That’s the gift of LPA – friends and families spanning generations and miles who are joined by lived experience. Click HERE to register.

Sunday, October 18 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - How to Raise Confident Children – A Teacher’s Perspective
This time together will explore how parents and educators can help children build confidence both at home and in the classroom. It will offer practical, intentional ways to nurture children's belief in themselves while also helping them find connection and belonging within their community. Click HERE to register.

Monday, October 19 - 7:00pm EDT/4:00pm PDT -  Scholarship Ready: Applying with Your Whole Self 
For this Dwarf Advocacy Month, LPA's Programs and Scholarship Committee is excited to provide a resource that helps scholarship and college applicants to uphold the core values that are fundamental to LPA as a community. If you've ever wondered if you should write about your dwarfism in a scholarship essay or even apply to one of LPA's scholarship programs, this webinar is for you. You'll learn about what makes a strong application, how to craft a scholarship essay, and learn more about LPA's scholarships. Click HERE to register.

Monday, October 19 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Our Careers, Our Stories: Little People at Work
A Dwarfism Advocacy Month webinar from LPA's Employment Committee. In this 60-minute panel, LP professionals share their personal career stories — the paths they took, the barriers they broke, and the advice they'd give others building their own careers. Click HERE to register.

Tuesday, October 20 - 7:00pm EDT/4:00pm PDT - Trivia Night - A Night of Inclusive Fun!
This DAM event is a virtual trivia game containing questions focused on diversity and inclusion within the LP community and LPA organization.  The event highlights the importance of being inclusive in both our organization as well as the world as a whole.  Click HERE to register.

Tuesday, October 20 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Think Big: Resilience, Grit, and Redefining What’s Possible
My Journey to Becoming a Physician with Dwarfism.  Dr. Jennifer Arnold shares her personal stories of how she encountered barriers, adapted, advocated, found allies, failed, persisted, and sometimes changed the environment rather than changing herself. Her story taught her that resilience and grit matter—but so do access, opportunity, and people who are willing to think bigger about what is possible. Click HERE to register.

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Intergenerational Intersections – DAM x Rainbow Community
Join us for a night to hear first hand what it means to sit at the intersection of being an LGBTQIA+ LP. We’ll learn from those with lived experiences and leave with more knowledge and understanding of what it means to be inclusive within LPA and our day to day lives. Click HERE to register.

Sunday, October 25, 2026 - 7:00pm EDT/4:00pm PDT - Biotechnology & Research Community Conversation
An interactive community discussion, lead by LPA's Biotech Committee, exploring the current landscape of biotechnology & research in dwarfism, and how our community is thinking about it. Through live polling, audience interaction, and facilitated discussion, we’ll take the pulse of the community, explore evolving perspectives and common misconceptions, and identify the questions and topics that deserve greater attention. The goal is to create an open, balanced dialogue that both informs the community and helps LPA better understand where greater education, discussion, and engagement are needed.  Click HERE to register.

Sunday, October 25, 2026 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - How We Look Screening
Celebrating International Dwarfism Awareness Day and Billy Barty’s birthday, what better way to do that than to have a community screening of 3 short films built by performers with dwarfism/ LPs. The Dwarf Artist Coalition (DAC) invites you to this special Dwarfism Awareness Event to come together to watch the “How We Look” Project and to also hear from some of the cast and producers of the shorts. The DAC and LPA supported the original grant writing process to create seed funding for this project. If you’ve seen the feature documentary The Tallest Dwarf, you might remember a LP centered film project within the larger film. These short films have officially hit theaters, with a world premiere at Reelabilities Film Festival NY and most recently at the Superfest Film Festival in San Francisco. We are thrilled to bring this collection of films to our LPA community for the first time!! After we watch the collection of films, we will have a panel including participating artists and have a discussion about our history, our legacy, and what it means to create art together as a community. Please join us for this inaugural LPA screening on Billy Barty's Birthday! Click HERE to register.

Monday, October 26, 2026 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Voting Without Barriers: Accessibility for Little People
It is so important that everyone in America is able to access their voting stations and make their ballot count! Come join us to learn your access rights to the voting stations and options you can advocate for. Who can you call before you arrive? What questions should you ask? If you have concerns on the day of voting, who should you speak with? Jon Etherton and Kori Allen will share all of the resources you will need to be successful! Click HERE to register.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - The Return of Benjamin Lay: A Conversation with Mark Povinelli
"Join me, you and you too. We can make the finest work of one another, loving and leveling all things, great and small.” - The Return of Benjamin Lay. 
Join Past LPA President for an exploration and discussion into one of the most remarkable LPs that ever lived. Benjamin Lay, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Lay, was the leading abolitionist of the 18th century, self taught scholar, friend to Benjamin Franklin, social rights advocate, anti-capitalist, vegetarian, and one of the most remarkable figures in history. The fact that he was a dwarf is both the most important and most irrelevant part of his makeup. Click HERE to register.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - MAB Discussion of Pediatric Topics (tentative topic)
Full description of session to be updated by Oct 1. Click HERE to register.

Thursday, October 29, 2026 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - MAB Discussion of Adult Topics (tentative topic)
Full description of session to be updated by Oct 1. Click HERE to register.

Friday, October 30, 2026 - 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT - Rainbow Social
This is an opportunity to meet new friends, visit with old friends, and discuss what is important to you. You will have the opportunity to exchange stories, ideas, and helpful advice. We welcome both gay and supportive straight family and friends. Click HERE to register.