Little People of America (LPA) is a nonprofit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and to their families. The organization was created in 1957 by Billy Barty and friends.

The national organization is divided into regional districts and local chapters. District 12 covers the local LPA chapters in the region of California and Nevada. Each local chapter is a group of families, friends, acquaintances, and professionals who are connected by experience with short stature.

On this site you will find information about our district, national organization, local chapters, contacts for more information about dwarfism, available resources, and how you can participate with us. You are welcome to contact us for more information, for support, or to join with everyone at the regional activities we hold during Spring and Autumn every year.

LPA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with dwarfism throughout their lives while celebrating with great pride Little People’s contribution to social diversity. LPA strives to bring solutions and global awareness to the prominent issues affecting individuals of short stature and their families.

A Message from our LPA District 12 Director:
We had one of the best District 12 regional conferences in the Los Angeles area in mid-April with about 350 people in attendance. I would like to thank the Los Angeles Chapter members for hosting. Thank you especially to the Conference Committee whose help was monumental in making this a very successful and valuable experience for all attendees. Mike and Cherylle Mallinson, Gina Zingaro and Tom Hershey, and Daryl and Leslie Vanderpool did most of the work and they recruited family members, friends, co-workers, and lots of other chapter members to help with the effort. Thanks also go to all of you on-the-spot volunteers for doing whatever it takes to make these events work so well. A special thanks goes out to Tom and Nancy Culbert, volunteers extraordinaire who come to our California regionals and pay their own way to simply volunteer their time. We are very lucky to have each other to be able to rely on for running things smoothly.

Read: D12 General Membership Meeting Minutes

Fall 2010 District 12 Regional Conference Weekend
The LPA D12 Autumn Conference will be hosted by the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter and held October 8-10 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Monterey, CA. Boccia, flag football and golf are planned in addition to workshops, medical consultations and other activities. A banquet and dance will be held Saturday evening. A full conference description and registration packet is mailed to LPA members in August.

Membership in LPA is required in order to register for the conference and to take advantage of the special hotel room rate. If you are new to LPA or if you need to renew your membership, you may do so online or by submitting a membership form with your conference registration forms. Membership dues are $55 per household per year or $120 for 3 years; $35 per year for college/vocational students with proof of enrollment; $35 per year for international members; and $20 per year for seniors 65 years and older. If you cannot afford dues, you can apply for free membership due to financial hardship by contacting the LPA National Office.

Remember: If you or someone you know will be a first-time attendee at the Fall Regional, grant funding is available for those who meet the criteria and submit an application.

Summer 2011 National LPA Conference and DAAA Games Week
During the first week of July 2011, the LPA National Conference and DAAA National Games will be held in in Anaheim, California. A full conference description and registration form will be mailed to LPA members during Spring 2011.