Talk:National Organization of Short Statured Adults/Major revision draft

The National Organization of Short Statured Adults (NOSSA) is a non-profit advocacy group for adults of short stature. The organization defines "short stature" to be men under 5'7" and women under 5'2" in height. The group advocates on behalf of short people and hopes to foster greater acceptance of short people within society. NOSSA is opposed to the prejudice known as heightism.The group defines heightism as, "a prejudiced attitude about human height that often results in discrimination. It is based on the belief that short statured people are inferior and undesirable." [1] NOSSA runs a series of public education programs, sponsors height-related research, acts as a media "watch-dog" group, provides legal assistance for those affected by heightism, hosts online discussion groups, and invites members to gather once a year for an annual convention.

History

NOSSA was formed in New York in 2005 by four active members of the Short Support Website. [2] The organization is run by a four person Board of Directors (Trustees) who are elected to serve four year terms in office. The group got off to rocky start when in May of 2006, founding member and Secretary Joe Mangano made an inappropriate comment to an Associated Press reporter, commenting on a court trial in Nebraska which led to the sentencing of Richard W. Thompson, a short man, on two counts of sexually assaulting a minor. [1] In reporting on the trial, the Associated Press quoted Mangano, as saying "It’s good to see someone looking out for a short person." in reference to trial Judge Kristine Cecava's concern for Thompson's safety in a prison environment. Thompson was sentenced to serve 10 years probation by Judge Cecava. [2]The organization released an immediate statement to respond to these comments. As a result, Joe Mangano is no longer a Trustee of the organization, the organization has apologized for any harm that may have resulted, and a donation to the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation was made.[3] Joe Mangano was immediately replaced by Short Support Editor, Steven Goldsmith.

hGH Issue

In 2003, The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of human growth hormone (hGH) for children well below the average height with no medically determined cause, also known as idiopathic short stature. GH therapy had been prescribed previously for only medically determined causes of reduced height. Most patients to which this therapy was now made available produce normal levels of growth hormone on their own. Some other biological cause(s) still place these children more than 2 standard deviations below average height.

NOSSA announced its opposition to the use of human growth hormone for short, but otherwise healthy, children. The organization believes being short isn’t a problem; the real difficulties lies in the social bias against short people. In part to define the organization's position on the matter, NOSSA Representative and author Ellen Frankel LCSW stated, "What we need is education for those who discriminate against short people, not the genetic engineering of the victims of that prejudice." [4]

Princeton Economist Study

In August of 2006, a study by Princeton Economists' Anne Case and Christina Paxson, entitled, "Stature and Status: Height, Ability, and Labor Market Outcomes" [3] concluded that tall people are just smarter than their height-challenged peers. The researchers report, "On average, taller people earn more because they are smarter. As early as age 3 — before schooling has had a chance to play a role — and throughout childhood, taller children perform significantly better on cognitive tests. The correlation between height in childhood and adulthood is approximately 0.7 for both men and women, so that tall children are much more likely to become tall adults. As adults, taller individuals are more likely to select into higher paying occupations that require more advanced verbal and numerical skills and greater intelligence, for which they earn handsome returns." [4] NOSSA Secretary Steven Goldsmith responded to the study by stating, "If a similar study made similar conclusions about any other minority group, there would be fierce outrage from those groups and sympathy from many who are not in those groups." [5] NOSSA Advisor Ellen Frankel LCSW continued, "We understand racism. It's time we take a serious look at heightism." [6]

Legal Ramifications

Currently, there is one State in the United States of America (Michigan) that prohibits height discrimination (Michigan's Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976)[7]. There is pending legislation introduced by Massachusetts Representative Byron Rushing which would add Massachussetts to the list (H. 3752) [8]. Two municipalities currently prohibit height discrimination. They are Santa Cruz, California [9] and San Francisco, California [10]. Although NOSSA is not directly involved in any type of lobbying activities, the group supports legislation which prohibits height-based discrimination and provides assistance to members with valid claims of height-based discrimination as well as those who claim to have been defrauded by height-enhancing products and scams.