World Short People's Day (October 25) is a date that recognizes bodily diversity, rights, inclusion and equal opportunities for people living with this disability.
In a world where inclusion is still a goal, October 25, World Day of Short People, invites to reflect on the importance of respect and equity needed by this population.which in Mexico is legally recognized in the category of people living with a disability.
History of World Short People's Day
World Undersized People's Day is October 25. This initiative emerged in 2013 thanks to the organization Little People of America..
One of the figures in which was inspired by this event was actor William John Bertanzetti (a.k.a. Billy Barty)who died on December 23, 2000. He was an undersized man who founded Little People of America. This association was created in 1957 and has promoted equal rights for short people in the United States.
According to the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination (Copred), this date began to be commemorated in Mexico in 2014.. In addition, on July 12, 2018 there was a reform that amended Article 4 of the General Law for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.. This was done in order to including achondroplasia or short stature as a type of disability.
Who are considered to be undersized?
Based on data from Little People of America, short people have an adult height of 1.48 meters or less. In additionthere are at least 400 different forms of skeletal dysplasia.which can affect people of short stature. However, the most common condition is achondroplasia.
One of the relevant points on the subject of short people is the following. not see this issue from a trainer's point of view or treating them as children. when they become adults.
Facts about short people in Mexico
In Mexico there are about 11,000 people with short stature according to data that the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) gave in 2018. However, there are no official figures supported by the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (Inegi).To date, there has been no census of this population group.
It is important for Inegi to carry out a demographic study on the short stature population in Mexico., ya que los datos podrían revelar cuáles son las problemáticas más comunes a las que se enfrentan. Además, would demonstrate the extent to which inclusion and equal rights are extended in all areas of life in the country.
Appropriate language to refer to this sector of the population.
On the other hand, the terms 'dwarf' and 'midget' are considered aggressive and pejorative to refer to this population. The correct way to refer to them is as short people.or, alternatively, only speak to them by name.
Employment situation of short statured people in Mexico
In the case of the labor landscape in Mexico, there are no official figures that allow us to know precisely what people of short stature are working on. However, if we take into account that to legally recognized as a type of disabilitywe can use figures from Inegi for 2020: only 38% of people over 15 with a disability were economically active..
However, there is no data that allows us to know how many people of short stature are included in the formal sector of the economy.
On the other hand, Jacob Zayas García, representative of the Somos Pequeños Veracruz civil association, explained in an interview with Xalapa Newspaper in 2023 that 80% of short people are unemployed..
"More than 80% of short people do not have a formal job, a degree, a professional development, what we seek is to eliminate discrimination, we want it to be recognized that they suffer, that they have needs."
Actions to be carried out in the work environment to achieve the inclusion of short people.
- Ensuring inclusive hiring and with equal opportunity based on the individual's physical and intellectual abilities;
- improving the accessibility of offices and workspaces for people with short stature to have mobility autonomy;
- to have a universal step in places in the office where short people may need it;
- provide medical insurance and psychological support for people of short stature;
- to guarantee spaces free of discrimination reinforced with training to raise awareness of this issue among workers.
¿Qué es el escalón universal y cuál es la relevancia que tiene para las personas de talla baja?
The escalón universal es una plataforma con la cual las personas de talla baja pueden acceder de forma igualitaria a algunos espacios que normalmente estarían fuera de su alcance.
Idealmente, la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-001-STPS-2008, Edificios, locales, instalaciones y áreas en los Centros de Trabajo – Condiciones de Seguridad, señala las características que deben tener las escaleras. Si tomamos como base esta norma podemos concluir que un escalón universal necesita estas características:
- puede ser de uno o dos peldaños;
- the orillas de los escalones deben estar redondeadas;
- the huellas de los escalones en sus tramos rectos necesitan tener una longitud mínima de 25 centímetros and the peraltes no deben exceder la altura de los 23 centímetros;
- debe poder soportar al menos 50 kilogramos;
- puede tener barandales a los lados para proporcionar mayor seguridad;
- puede ser fijo o móvil.
En México, la iniciativa de tener escalones universales en oficinas de Gobierno y en espacios públicos ya fue presentada en congresos de diversos estados como Sonora, Baja California, Coahuila, Michoacán, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Querétaro y Ciudad de México. In addition, su implementación ya se puso en marcha en Coahuila, Michoacán, Querétaro y Nayarit.
Idealmente, se busca que estos escalones sean una realidad no solo en oficinas de Gobierno, sino también en centros comerciales, bancos, escuelas y en cualquier espacio donde estén las personas de talla baja.
Did you know these interesting facts about short people?
Sources: Government of Mexico (1, 2), Copred, CNDH, Inegi, El Financiero, The world of law, Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social y Sistema de Información Legislativa
Research and editing by José Manuel Ríos and Rodrigo Hernández
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