LP

Since the creation of Little People of America by Billy Barty in 1957, people with dwarfism have begun to challenge their professional and social position in society. Under the influence of the social movements of the sixties and the anti-discrimination laws of the seventies, Little People can pursue higher education and engage themselves in fulfilling careers and public lives. The development of the Internet has also benefited their community, as it has created new jobs that don’t require physical force, and facilitated exchange. Little People organizations have multiplied around the world, providing medical information and emotional support.This is an exciting turning point in the history of Little People. Dr. Ain is believed to be the first and only surgeon with dwarfism in the world. In 2016, Little People of America organized the first International Dwarfism Leadership Summit, to help other countries strengthen their fight against discrimination.

My work is about the emancipation of this new generation around the world. There is a movement happening now, which could be compared to the civil rights movement, or the gay movement. Through my photographs I hope to witness this “small revolution” as Betty Adelson refers to in her book, The Lives of Dwarfs: Their Journey from Public Curiosity toward Social Liberation.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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New York, United States. July 2009 Swimming competition at the National Dwarf Games in Brooklyn. The National Dwarf Games are held every year by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, a nonprofit organization created in 1985, providing athletic opportunities for people of short stature in the United States.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Nevada, United States. November 2007 Kimberley and her niece, Isabel, at the supermarket in Las Vegas. Originally from Wisconsin, Kimberley lived in New York for twenty years to pursue a career as an actress, before moving to Las Vegas to be close to her family. When not acting, she works as a nanny.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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New York, United States September 2013 Sister Pia with the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, in Long Island. Originally from Poland, Sister Pia came to the USA when she was sixteen years old to live with her mother, who had foreseen a better future for her there. After surviving a car accident and meeting Sister Charlotte, a Little Person, her spiritual journey began towards joining the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Karnataka, India. March 2010 Devappa trains every morning for the games. After he participated in the World Dwarf Games in Belfast in 2009, people from his village started to respect him for his achievement; it was a turning point in his life. Today his ambition is to get the Ekalavya Award, awarded by the Government of Karnataka, for outstanding performance in sports. Devappa is a farmer and lives with his wife and daughter in Kadanakoppa. The World Dwarf Games were hosted for the first time in Chicago, in 1993, by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, a nonprofit organization, providing athletic opportunities for people of short stature. Since then, they are held every four years in a different country.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Maryland, United States. November 2012 Laney, one day after her spine surgery, in Baltimore. She had ten surgeries since the age of three. She doesn't remember her first surgery but she remembers receiving a stuffed animal, which has accompanied her ever since. Laney is eight years old and from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her dream is to work with dolphins. (Photo by Clemence de Limburg)

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Maryland, United States. April 2012 Karen gets ready for her wedding day. Her and Jim met on "Date a Little", a dating website for Little People. After a long distance relationship between North Carolina and Michigan, they married at the LPA Regional in Ocean City, to celebrate with their Little People friends. LPA, Little People of America, is a nonprofit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. LPA was founded in 1957, when actor Billy Barty made a national public appeal, for all Little People in America, to join him for a gathering in Reno, Nevada. Twenty Little People came together. Today LPA has more than six thousand members across the United States.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Maryland, United States. April 2012 Karen and Jim on their wedding night. Karen and Jim met on "Date a Little"‚ a dating website for Little People. After a long distance relationship between North Carolina and Michigan, they married at the LPA‚Äôs Regional in Ocean City, to celebrate with their Little People friends. LPA, Little People of America, is a nonprofit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. LPA was founded in 1957 when actor Billy Barty made a national public appeal for all Little People in America to join him for a gathering in Reno, Nevada. Twenty Little people came together. Today LPA has more than six thousand members across the United States.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Victoria, Australia. June 2016 Jonathan and Alyssa with their newborn daughter Sienna, at Monash Medical Center, in Melbourne. Jonathan is from New Zealand and Alyssa is from South Africa. They met at an SSPA convention and were friends for years before dating. SSPA, Short Statured People of Australia, is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1968, that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Paris, France. December 2016 Christophe, during a rehearsal of his one-man show, at the Apollo Theatre. Christophe, known as Krystoff Fluder, is a French comedian, author and actor. His one-man show "Je suis noir et alors?" creates awareness about dwarfism. He has been featured in several movies and is regularly invited to perform at company offices to raise disability awareness in the corporate workplace.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Johannesburg, South Africa. March 2016 Nicholas and Magdalene get ready for their performance of Bach St Matthew Passion, with the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg, at the Linder Auditorium, where Nicholas had his first audition at the age of ten. Nicholas is an award-winning concert performer with over ten years experience as a distinguished soloist and conductor. When not on stage, he teaches vocals in Johannesburg, where he lives with his wife Angela and his son Luke.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Queensland, Australia. October 2011 Ella, Ashleigh, Sophie and Tayler on their way to a dinner party on the Sunshine Coast, hosted by SSPA during its National Convention. SSPA, Short Statured People of Australia, is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1968, that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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California, United States. July 2011 Check out at the hotel after the LPA convention in Anaheim, California. LPA, Little People of America, is a nonprofit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. LPA was founded in 1957, when actor Billy Barty made a national public appeal, for all Little People in America, to join him for a gathering in Reno, Nevada. Twenty Little People came together. Today LPA has more than six thousand members across the United States.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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California, United States. March 2018. Kathy with her son Dana Junior and her husband Dana, on their way for brunch at a restaurant, in Santa Clarita. Kathy is a fashion designer and an Uber driver. After her son was born, Kathy launched, KDW, the first ready-to-wear Clothing Line for Little People, in 2012. Her dream is to bring quality clothing to the Little People community because she says: "When you look good, you feel good". Her best selling item is the leopard wrap dress, inspired by Diane von Furstenberg.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Belfast, Northern Ireland. July 2009 Kids play during the Badminton Tournament of the fifth World Dwarf Games, at the UUJ Sports Center. The World Dwarf Games were hosted for the first time in Chicago, in 1993, by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, a nonprofit organization, providing athletic opportunities for people of short stature. They are held every four years in a different country.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Belfast, Northern Ireland. July 2009 Swimming competition at the fifth World Dwarf Games. In the middle left: Philipp from Germany. The World Dwarf Games were hosted for the first time in Chicago, in 1993, by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, a nonprofit organization, providing athletic opportunities for people of short stature. They are held every four years in a different country.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
i

Maryland, United States. October 2012 Dr. Ain prepares for surgery in the operating room, at John Hopkins Hospital, in Baltimore. Dr. Michael Ain is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Neurosurgeon at John Hopkins Hospital. After being rejected by more than twenty medical schools, because of his height, he was accepted at Albany Medical College and applied for a fellowship in Orthopedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is believed to be the first and only surgeon with dwarfism in the world.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Berlin, Germany. January 2014 Silke in her office at the Ministry of Justice. Originally from Frankfurt, Silke moved to Berlin to work at the Ministry of Justice, for the department of criminal law. She initially wanted to become a doctor but was not accepted into medical school because of her short stature. Instead of suing them, she became a prosecutor. Her desk and keyboard are adapted to her size.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
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Karnataka, India. December 2013 Devappa collects weed for the cattle in his fields. He is a farmer and lives with his wife and two daughters in Kadanakoppa. After he participated in the World Dwarf Games in Belfast in 2009, he gained respect from the people of his village for his achievement; it was a turning point in his life. Today his ambition is to get the Ekalavya Award, awarded by the Government of Karnataka, for outstanding performance in sports. The World Dwarf Games were hosted for the first time in Chicago, in 1993, by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, a nonprofit organization, providing athletic opportunities for people of short stature. Since then, they are held every four years in a different country.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
i

Karnataka, India. December 2013 Devappa and his three-year-old daughter, Shristi, at home, in Kadankoppa. After he participated in the World Dwarf Games in Belfast in 2009, people from his village started to respect him for his achievement; it was a turning point in his life. Today his ambition is to get the Ekalavya Award, awarded by the Government of Karnataka, for outstanding performance in sports. Devappa is a farmer and lives with his wife and two daughters in Kadanakoppa. The World Dwarf Games were hosted for the first time in Chicago, in 1993, by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, a nonprofit organization, providing athletic opportunities for people of short stature. Since then, they are held every four years in a different country.

© Clemence de Limburg - Image from the LP photography project
i

Maine, United States. April 2012 Corynne at a dinner party of the LPA Regional Convention in Portland. LPA, Little People of America, is a nonprofit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. LPA was founded in 1957, when actor Billy Barty made a national public appeal, for all Little People in America, to join him for a gathering in Reno, Nevada. Twenty Little People came together. Today LPA has more than six thousand members across the United States.

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