Achondroplasia Brothers go to Kindergarten

So after reading about what achondroplasia is, I wondered what it is like for young children to first go to school with it because my niece will be doing this in September. I found an article written by Gretchen McKay that explains an experience that two brothers share in their first year of kindergarten.

McKay explains that Will Graf and his adopted brother are both little people who shared their first year of school together. She starts by explaining a situation that Max had with another student. The boys' teacher, Mary Ann Mihkalko, explains that Max's peer said that he was too little to be 5. She explains that Max took the boy aside and explained "Well," he began with adult-like authority, "have you ever heard the word 'dwarf'?" (McKay, 2002, p.1). Mihalko explains that Max explained the the boy that he was a little person and that she did not have to say anything to either of them after that.

Throught his article it is stated that the boys' parents were concerned that they were going to get teased and made fun of. After the year was over, the only problems either of them experienced was with Max and another student that I just explained and another when two girls pointed and laughed at them on the bus.

With concern about the boys in the classroom setting for the first time, some accommodations were made for them. McKay explains that "even though the law didn't require it, they placed an aide in Mihalko's classroom to assist with toilet visits and walking. Weekly visits with an occupational therapist would help the children's writing and drawing" (McKay, 2002, p.2). Seatbelts were placed in the seat behind the bus driver to assure that the boys would have safe transportation to and from school. This, explains McKay is because "Will and Max's disproportionately large heads make them top-heavy and more apt to fall out of their seats ifthe bus swerves or stops quickly" (2002, p.2). It is also explained that stools were put by the water fountains and bathroom sinks, the doors on their lockers were adjusted so they could be opened easier, and the school placed a smaller toilet in the bathroom.

It is awesome to know that accommodations like this are made in classrooms for students that have achondroplasia. I found this article to be very interesting because it is not something that it usually stressed when you look up information on achondroplasia. If you want to read more about the boys' Kindergarten year together here is the website: http://www.post-gazette.com/lifestyle/20020613dwarfs2.asp


If reading about what it is like to live with achondroplasia is not enough for you or and you want more insight about it I found a great video about a couple with achondroplasia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bk0LLU2KHY

Living with Dwarfism (HD) [Motion picture]. (2009). YouTube. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bk0LLU2KHY
McKay, G. (2002, June 13).  Dwarf brother take a big step in kindergarten.  In post-gazzette.
  Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://postgazzette.com/lifestyle/20020613dwarfs2.asp